• 


w 


ill 


FASHIONABLE 


DISSIPATION. 


METTA  V.  FULLER. 


G.    G.    EYA  NS, 

439    CHESTNUT    STREET,    PHILADELPHIA. 
1858. 


Entered,  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1857,  by 
J.  W.  BRADLEY, 

IB  the  Clerk's  Office  of  the  District  Court  of  the  United  States,  in  and  for  the 
Eastern  District  of  Pennsylvania. 


• 


ADVERTISMENT. 

THE  writer  of  "  FAsmONABLE  DISSIPATION  "  has  made 
for  herself  an  enviable  reputation  as  the  author  of"  THE 
SENATOR'S  SON,"  and  our  readers  will  recognize  in  the  first 
story  the  same  force  of  style  and  brilliancy  of  narrative 
which  rendered  her  former  effort  so  widely  popular. 

The  publishers  flatter  themselves  that  the  present  volume 
will  be  received  with  favor  and  that  the  high  moral  tone  of 
both  tales  will  be  justly  appreciated. 


M146551 


CONTENTS. 


PAG*. 

FASHIONABLE  DISSIPATION.    BY  METTA  V.  FULLER.         7 
ADBLA  LINCOLN. BY  M.  F.  CABBY.    171 


Iraipation. 

BY    METTA    VICTORIA    FULLER. 


CHAPTER  I. 

THE  Lee  family  was  out  on  the  piazza  enjoying  the 
freshness  of  the  evening.  The  sun  was  only  just 
setting,  but  a  cool  breeze  had  begun  to  blow  from 
the  clouds  which  were  flitting  up  the  western  sky. 

Mr.  Lee,  the  father,  was  reading  the  papers  which 
he  had  brought  from  the  village  post-office  ;  Mar 
garet  was  deeply  absorbed  in  an  illustrated  magazine 
which  had  arrived  with  the  papers  ;  Rosa  was  out  on 
the  lawn  enjoying  the  sunset;  and  Lily,  the  youngest, 
was  pulling  Towser's  ears.  As  for  Frederick,  the 
lion  of  the  family,  he  deserves  a  paragraph  by  him 
self.  He  was  sauntering  idly  up  and  down  the  long 
piazza,  an  expression  of  listless  discontent  upon  his 
face  and  his  hands  in  his  pockets.  He  varied  the 


8  FASHIONABLE  DISSIPATION. 

sameness  of  his  occupation  by  occasionally  breaking 
forth  in  a  low,  repining,  long,  melancholy  whistle — 
by  pulling  Lily's  ears  harder  than  she  pulled  Tow- 
ser's — by  accidentally  brushing  the  book  out  of  Mar 
garet's  hand  as  he  passed  her,  and  then  whistling 
more  despairing  than  ever.  At  last,  seeing  that 
Rosa,  who  had  been  darting  about  like  a  humming 
bird  among  the  flowers,  had  seated  herself  on  the 
grass  and  was  wreathing  some  roses  together,  he 
made  a  sudden  bound  which  startled  old  Mr.  Lee 
half  out  of  his  chair,  and,  without  touching  the  steps, 
alighted  on  the  ground  by  her  side. 

"  That  exertion  was  too  great  for  this  tiresome 
weather,"  he  said,  dropping  upon  the  grass  and  fling 
ing  his  head  back  into  his  sister's  lap. 

"  Tiresome  weather,"  repeated  she,  softly,  begin 
ning  to  stick  the  roses  which  lay  in  a  little  heap  by 
her  side,  grotesquely  into  the  jetty  curls  which 
streamed  even  to  her  knee.  "  Why,  the  air  is  full 
of  sweets,  the  sky  makes  one  dream  of  Italy — every 
thing  is  beautiful  to-night.  For  my  part,  I  am 
happy." 

"  Of  course  you  are  happy,  Rosa  ;  you  always  are. 
Besides,  I  know  !  somebody  is  coming  this  evening, 
which  would  make  darkness  seem  bright  to  you.  / 
am  not  in  love,  which  accounts  for  my  being  capable 


FASHIONABLE  DISSIPATION.  9 

of  feeling  weariness.  The  truth  is,  I  feel  dull — 
miserably  dull — stupid — listless  !  I  long  for  some 
thing  to  thrill,  to  excite  me  ;  to  startle  my  pulses, 
my  fancies  and  feelings  into  new  life.  I  wish  I  had 
a  glass  of  wine  to-night — none  of  your  dregs  of 
logwood  nor  even  your  sparkling  Catawba — but  a 
draught  such  as  Keats  speaks  of,  such  as  the  gods 
of  old  were  inspired  with — a  jewelled  goblet : — 

'  0,  for  a  beaker  full  of  the  warm  South, 
Full  of  the  true,  the  blushful  Hippocrene, 

With  bearded  bubbles  winking  at  the  brim, 
And  purple-stained  mouth !' 

and  you  should  be  my  Hebe,  crowned  with  roses, 
beautiful,  tender,  presenting  me  with  the  charmed 
«  vintage  draught !' '' 

"I  should  be  a  poor  Hebe,  Fred,  for  the  first 
thing  I  should  do  would  be  to  pour  the  delicious 
redness  out  upon  the  earth  and  bring  you,  instead, 
water  from  the  crystal  spring." 

"  Oh,  nonsense  !  you  cowardly  little  thing  !  then 
I  should  punish  you — thus  !" — and  pulling  the  comb 
out  of  her  hair,  down  came  her  curls  over  her  face 
and  neck.  "  There !  that  looks  fine — and  Charlie 
will  be  here  before  you  can  get  them  in  order 
again." 


10  FASHIONABLE  DISSIPATION. 

"  You  are  too  bad,"  cried  Rosa,  colouring  with 
momentary  indignation. 

And  he  was  too  bad,  for  she  had  spent  half  an 
hour  in  arranging  her  beautiful  hair  in  such  a  man 
ner  as  to  please  Charlie's  fastidious  eye. 

"  There  he  comes  now,"  he  cried,  holding  Rosa 
tightly,  who  was  struggling  to  free  herself  and  get  to 
her  chamber.  "  You  need  not  flutter  so,  my  birdie  : 
he  shall  see  you  first  as  you  are,  looking  like  a 
fright." 

Brothers  are,  proverbially,  hectors  and  tyrants  to 
their  sisters  ;  but  Fred  would  hardly  have  enjoyed 
Rosa's  confusion  as  much,  had  he  not  observed  that 
she  grew  prettier  all  the  time.  Her  cheeks  wero 
glowing,  and  her  curls  went  dancing  and  glittering 
around  them,  as  if  they  enjoyed  the  mischief. 

"  Oh,  dear,"  said  the  fair  girl  piteously,  to  the 
young  gentleman  who  approached  them,  "  I  have  not 
had  a  moment's  peace  since  Fred  came  home.  He 
is  such  a  plague.  I  wish  you  would  call  him  out, 
Mr.  Lennard,  and  avenge  my  sufferings." 

"  He  is  himself  so  nearly  dead  from  a  wound  re 
ceived  from  the  grand  master  of  wars  and  duels,  that 
he  has  not  life  enough  left  to  challenge  me,"  con 
tinued  Frederick,  laughing,  as  Mr.  Lennard,  instead 


FASHIONABLE  DISSIPATION.  11 

of  answering  her  merry  appeal,  stood  gazing  in  silent 
admiration  upon  her  countenance. 

"  I  throw  the  falsehood  back  in  your  face,"  cried 
the  visitor,  in  the  same  tone,  stooping  to  conceal  a 
blush,  and  gathering  up  a  handful  of  roses,  which  he 
flung  in  his  opponent's  face. 

The  two  young  men,  full  of  the  gayety  of  twenty- 
two,  began  pelting  each  other  with  flowers  and 
epithets  about  as  hard  to  bear,  while  Rosa  stole  off 
to  arrange  her  toilet  whispering  to  Margaret,  as  she 


"  How  handsome  they  both  are,  Maggie." 

Maggie  was  in  the  midst  of  a  love  story,  but  look 
ing  up  at  her  sister's  speech,  she  could  not  but  ac 
knowledge  that  the  heroes  of  her  story  were  in  all 
probability  inferior  to  those  she  saw  standing  between 
her  and  the  glowing  western  sky. 

Frederick  was  not  only  the  oldest  child  and  the 
only  son,  but  he  was  exceedingly  good-looking,  by 
which  he  was  in  triple  danger  of  being  spoiled.  The 
listlessness  had  vanished  from  his  manner  under  the 
excitement  of  the  moment,  and  his  handsome  fea 
tures  glowed  with  the  natural  brightness  of  his  bold, 
frank,  audacious  spirit. 

Some  of  the  roses  which  his  sister  had  placed  in 
them  still  clung  to  his  ringlets,  which  were  tossed 


12  FASHIONABLE  DISSIPATION. 

back  and  fluttering  in  the  wind.  He  was  of  elegant 
stature,  and  half  looked,  as  he  threw  himself  into  an 
attitude  to  repel  the  fragrant  missiles  which  were 
hurled  at  him,  like  one  of  the  gods  whose  nectar  he 
had  longed  to  drink. 

His  friend  and  Rosa's  lover,  Charles  Lennard,  was 
of  slighter  make  and  paler  beauty,  with  deep  blue 
eyes  and  waving  light  hair.  Margaret  forgot  her 
book  while  regarding  the  graceful  pair  until  they 
were  tired  of  the  frolic  and  came  and  sat  upon  the 
steps  at  her  feet.  Lily,  too,  was  weary  of  teasing 
Towser,  and  she  crept  into  the  maiden's  lap,  and 
laid  there  sleepily,  while  Mr.  Lee,  it  growing  too 
dark  to  read,  folded  up  his  paper.  Rosa  came  back 
with  her  hair  demurely  smooth  —  and  the  whole 
family  fell  into  a  pleasant  idle  talk. 

Old  Mr.  Lee  was  one  of  those  gentleman  who  ride 
a  hobby  —  his  was  Temperance  ;  and  as  something 
he  had  been  reading  reminded  him  of  his  favorite 
topic,  it  was  not  long  until  he  found  occasion  to  say 
something  about  it. — "  And,  by  the  way,"  he  con 
cluded,  after  some  remarks  he  had  made  upon  the 
effort  which  was  then  beginning  to  awaken  public  at 
tention — the  abolition  of  intoxicating  drinks  by  law 
— «<  there  is  to  be  a  meeting  in  the  Town  Hall,  to- 


FASHIONABLE  DISSIPATION.  13 

morrow  evening,  when  this  question  is  to  be  discussed. 
You  must  all  go,  my  children." 

"  Oh,  papa,  don't  compel  us  to  go  to  any  more 
Temperance  meetings.  They  are  the  same  old  stories 
and  coarse  anecdotes  over  and  over,"  said  Rosa,  im 
patiently. 

"  We  are  tired  of  them,"  added  Margaret,  more 
gently. 

u  But  this  is  to  he  a  meeting  of  more  than  ordi 
nary  interest.  The  subject  will  assume  a  somewhat 
new  form.  Besides,  girls,  I  am  to  be  one  of  the 
speakers." 

"  Well,  papa,  that  is  another  reason  why  we  might 
as  well  stay  at  home ;  for  you  know  we  hear  you 
speak  upon  temperance  every  day  of  our  lives.  I 
can  begin  now  and  give  this  select  audience  the  sum 
and  substance  of  what  you  will  say  !"  and  the  saucy, 
beautiful  girl,  laughed  as  she  clasped  her  hands  af 
fectionately  over  his  shoulder. 

"  There  's  truth  in  that,  which  will  apply  to  others 
as  well  as  you,"  said  the  father  good-naturedly. 
"  Everybody  in  this  part  of  the  State  has  heard  my 
opinion,  and  as  I  confess  to  the  charm  of  novelty — 
which  is  often  greater  than  that  of  common-sense — 
I  have  been  thinking  of  inviting  these  young  gentle 
men  to  speak  in  my  stead.  What  do  you  say,  sirs  ?" 
2 


14  FASHIONABLE  DISSIPATION. 

"Oh,  please!  please!"  cried  the  impetuous  Rosa, 
"  we  will  go  to  hear  a  speech  from  two  young  aspi 
rants  after  fame,  of  whose  college  eloquence  we  have 
heard  so  much.  We  don't  care  about  the  subject — 
we  have  no  doubt  from  what  we  have  heard,  that  you 
would  interest  us  if  you  were  to  speak  upon  the 
dullest  things." 

"  I  have  no  objection  to  obliging  you,  as  far  as  the 
eloquence  goes,  but  you  know,  all  of  you,  that  I  am 
not  a  Temperance  advocate  to  the  extreme  of  the 
present  doctrine." 

"  Never  mind,"  said  Rosa,  "  you  will  be  speaking 
in  a  good  cause,  and  I  presume  your  conscience  will 
not  trouble  you  much.  Your  practices,  I  hope,  are 
not  so  bad  but  that  you  can  wrap  yourself  in  the 
mantle  of  your  father's  virtues  and  be  unhesitatingly 
received." 

"What  do  you  promise,  Charlie?"  asked  Mar 
garet. 

1  If  there  should  seem  to  come  a  need  or  occasion 
for  my  exerting  myself,  I  shall  do  it  heartily,"  he 
replied. 

"  Thank  you  !  you  shall  have  some  sweet  music  as 
a  reward  for  your  complaisance,"  laughed  Rosa, 
skipping  through  the  Venetian  window  into  the  par 
lor,  where  a  servant  had  brought  lights,  followed  by 


FASHIONABLE  DISSIPATION.  15 

Frederick,  who,  the  moment  she  touched  the  piano, 
broke  out  in  a  stentorian  voice  which  drowned  her 
playing— 

"Uli,  oli,m,  ee, 
Charles  went  courting  Rosa  Lee!" 

Lily  grew  wide  awake  at  the  tumult,  and  of  course 
took  brother  Fred's  part  in  the  playful  quarrel  which 
ensued,  for  Charles  and  Rosa  and  even  the  quiet 
Margaret,  were  siding  against  him.  "  I  am  not  mad, 
nor  boisterous,  nor  a  hector,  am  I?"  he  asked  in  a 
tone  of  mock  despair  as  the  little  girl  stole  up  and 
took  hold  of  his  hand. 

"  I  don't  think  you  are,"  she  had  hardly  time  to 
assure  him,  before  she  was  screaming  with  a  sudden 
sense  of  danger,  as  he  tossed  her  above  his  head 
and  whirled  her  around  in  a  frightful  manner. 

"  That's  what  you  get  for  defending  the  unman 
nerly  fellow,  Miss  Lily,"  taunted  Rosa,  as  the  child 
found  herself  safely  on  her  feet  again. 

"  I  can't  help  it — I  love  him  just  as  well  if  he  does 
frighten  me,"  murmured  she,  glancing  shyly  up  into 
her  brother's  face  with  her  bright  eyes,  even  while 
she  shrank  a  little  with  the  apprehension  of  describ 
ing  another  dizzy  circle  over  his  head. 

"  It  is  so  with  all  of  us — it  is  the  way  we  are  spoil 
ing  him  !"  spoke  Margaret  with  some  gravity. 


16  FASHIONABLE  DISSIPATION. 

The  haughty  and  spirited  Frederick  wa9  a  trifle 
touched  by  these  remarks ;  he  sobered  down  bis 
turbulent  gayety,  took  his  little  sister  into  his  lap 
and  held  her  until  she  fell  asleep  to  the  "  Sweet 
music"  of  Rosa's  piano. 

In  the  meantime,  the  father  had  drawn  his  arm 
chair  within  doors,  and  sat  quietly  enjoying  the  pres 
ence  of  his  family,  the  pleasant  evening  and  the  de 
lightful  singing. 

"  It  would  be  hard  to  find  a  happier  home-circle 
than  ours,"  he  thought  to  himself  5  then  drew  a  long, 
soft  sigh  at  the  memory  of  the  dear  wife  gone,  glanc 
ing  ever  at  Margaret,  lovingly,  as  she  sat  finishing 
the  reading  of  her  story,  the  light  upon  her  cheerful 
face,  of  duties  bravely  performed,  as  the  eldest  sis 
ter,  the  sister-mother  of  the  family. 


CHAPTER  II. 


THE  next  evening  the  Lee  family  went  to  the  Tem 
perance  meeting.  As  their  residence  was  but  half 
a  mile  from  town  and  the  evening  was  lovely,  they 
concluded  to  walk. 

Charles  Lennard  and  Rosa  seemed  disposed  to 
linger  upon  the  way,  their  youthful  souls  being  in 
that  happy  mood  which  rendered  them  peculiarly 
susceptible  to  the  influence  of  fragrant  air  and  crim 
son-bound  twilight.  But  Mr.  Lee's  sympathies  were 
with  the  good  cause,  and  he  urged  them  to  hasten 
their  steps. 

"Now,  Frederick,"  said  Margaret  earnestly,  as 
they  entered  the  village,  "  do  endeavor  to  do  credit 
to  your  reputation  to-night.  You  know  this  is  your 
'  first  appearance'  before  your  friends  and  old  ac 
quaintances,  who  have  watched  you  since  you  were 
a  boy  with  the  hope  that  you  would  continue  to  do 
honor  to  their  society." 

"  They  will  be  sure  to  be  disappointed  then,"  was 
2*  17 


18  FASHIONABLE  DISSIPATION. 

the  gay  reply  :  u  it's  a  bad  thing  to  have  a  reputation 
for  smartness  precede  one — people  expect  too  much. 
And  I  assure  you,  I  am  not  ambitious  to  be  envied 
or  admired  by  the  village  of  C ." 

"  But  to  please  father,  Fred  !" 

"  Pshaw !  the  fellow  has  vanity  enough  to  do  his 
best,  notwithstanding  his  indolence,"  cried  Lennard, 
as  the  last  couple  came  up. 

"  And  you  ?"  asked  Ptosa  in  her  softest  voice,  with 
a  woman's  ambition  for  her  lover. 

"  I  need  not  expect  to  shine  in  the  same  constel 
lation  with  your  brother ;  but  I  shall  speak  as  my 
conscience  dictates." 

They  found  upon  entering,  that  the  hall  was  crowd 
ed  with  an  assembly  which  seemed  to  be  listening 
with  more  than  usual  attention  to  the  remarks  which 
one  of  their  citizens  had  already  commenced  to  make. 

When  he  had  finished  speaking,  some  one  who  had 
received  an  intimation  from  his  father,  called  out  for 
Frederick  Lee.  "Lee!  Lee!"  resounded  from  all 
parts  of  the  building. 

Frederick  rose  from  beside  his  beautiful  sisters 
and  advanced  to  the  platform.  His  winning  smile 
and  great  beauty  prepared  almost  every  one  to  be 
influenced  by  what  he  might  say.  He  made  a 
brief  and  brilliant  speech  to  the  effect,  that  the  love 


FASHIONABLE  DISSIPATION.  19 

of  stimulus  was  a  part  of  the  soul — that  all  nations 
indulged  this  passion  or  craving  in  some  shape  or 
another  by  the  use  of  some  intoxicating  or  narcotic 
drug  or  drink — that  the  attempt  to  deprive  our 
people  of  their  privilege  to  use  ardent  spirits  as 
they  should  think  best,  by  legislative  power,  would 
be  to  hurry  them  into  some  other — perhaps  worse 
excesses — say  the  universal  use  of  opium,  for  in 
stance — that  the  moderate  use  of  these  stimulants 
was  intended  by  the  Creator  as  a  blessing  and  comfort 
to  men — that  it  was  not  properly  the  work  of  law 
to  restrain  individual  excess — that  the  way  to  avert 
intemperance  was  by  a  slower  and  surer  process,  of 
educating  the  people — educating  them  up  to  that 
purity  and  Christianity  of  principle  that  they  would 
not  stand  in  need  of  such  legislative  enactments  as  are 
now  proposed — and  so  on  with  these  and  other  shal 
low  arguments  ;  atoning  for  the  want  of  depth  and  sin 
cerity  by  a  great  sparkling  of  rhetoric  and  blooming 
of  poetry.  He  talked  of  the  nepenthe  in  which  the 
Lotos-eaters  drowned  their  souls  in  care-defying, 
soft  and  soothing  dreams — of  the  courage  and  power 
which  nectar  imparted  to  the  gods — of  the  comfort 
and  delight  which  the  South  American  Indian  slaves 
found  in  the  chewing  of  a  certain  leaf;  and  after 
talking  beautifully,  and  proving  nothing,  he  returned 


20  FASHIONABLE  DISSIPATION. 

to  his  seat  amid  the  applause  of  the  opposition,  and 
the  silence  of  the  temperance  advocates. 

"  For  shame,  Fred,  you  have  put  poor  papa  quite 
to  the  blush  by  your  wickedness,"  whispered  Marga 
ret,  as  he  sat  down  by  her. 

"  Wickedness  !"  he  exclaimed,  with  that  trium 
phant  way  of  his  ;  erecting  his  handsome  head,  and 
casting  a  kindling  glance  around  the  room,  as  if  he 
had  been  doing  something  to  be  crowned  with  laurels 
for.  "  Nay,  now,  Margaret,  I  have  been  expressing 
what  to  me  seems  but  truth  and  justice." 

"  You'll  repent,  some  day,  I'm  afraid." 

"  Do  be  still,  can't  you?"  murmured  Rosa,  "  Char 
lie  is  about  to  open  his  mouth  and  confute  you." 

And  he  did  confute  him.  Frederick's  address  had 
been  like  a  shallow  river,  making  a  sweet  ripple, 
sparkling  in  the  sun,  and  adorned  with  flowers,  dan 
cing  on  its  waves,  Charles's  was  a  deep  and  quiet 
stream,  flowing  on  towards  truth,  carrying  conviction 
resistlessly  along  with  its  current.  He  seemed  to 
be  very  much  in  earnest,  growing  quite  pale  as  he 
proceeded,  and  so  much  absorbed  with  his  argument 
as  to  forget  to  brighten  it  with  witticisms  and  elo 
quent  smiles.  He  was  followed  by  applause  so  hear 
ty  that  Rosa's  cheeks  grew  red  with  pride. 

There  was  a  great  deal  of  animated  talk  during 


FASHIONABLE  DISSIPATION.  21 

the  walk  home  by  moonlight.  Old  Mr.  Lee  was  dis 
pleased  as  far  as  he  could  be  with  his  darling,  who 
defended  himself  with  his  usual  laughing  wayward 
ness.  Lennard  was  commended  by  all. 

"  He  need  not  pride  himself  upon  the  impression 
he  has  made  upon  those  solemn  old  dignitaries  of  the 
temperance  cause,"  cried  young  Lee.  "  I  am  willing 
to  stake  my  reputation  as  a  heart-smasher,  that  my 
speech  was  the  one  which  commanded  the  most  atten 
tion  from  the  ladies — and  who  else  is  there  that  is 
worth  pleasing  ?" 

"No,  indeed,  for  the  ladies  are  always  right!" 
said  old  Mr.  Lee. 

"  Your  father  is  the  most  truly  gallant  man  of  the 
two ;  and  I  would  trust  a  woman's  happiness  in  his 
keeping  sooner  than  I  would  in  yours,"  remarked 
Lennard,  gayly. 

"  Can't  help  it — women  persist  in  thinking  differ 
ently,"  was  the  indifferent  reply. 

"  Oh,  you  piece  of  vanity  and  perverseness !  I 
wish  they  all  knew  you  as  perfectly  as  I  do,"  and 
Rosa  gave  him  a  little  impatient  push  through  the 
gate  with  her  delicate  hand. 

"  Do  you  suppose  they  would  love  me  as  dearly  ;" 
was  the  taunting  question,  as  her  brother  turned,  and 
flinging  his  arm  around  her,  looking  down  at  her  a 


22  FASHIONABLE  DISSIPATION. 

moment  with  that  half-serious,  half-smiling  way,  so 
irresistible  in  him. 

And  Rosa  was  obliged  to  yield,  and  confess  herself 
subdued. 

"  Do  any  of  you  know  who  those  two  strangers 
were  who  sat  with  Mrs.  Greenwood  ]"  asked  Mar 
garet,  as  they  reached  the  piazza,  and  lingered  for  a 
few  moments  to  enjoy  the  moonlight  before  separat 
ing  for  the  night.  "  They  looked  like  brother  and 
sister.  There  was  something  in  their  looks  and  man 
ners  so  interesting  that  I  kept  stealing  glances  at 
them  all  the  evening." 

"  When  I  first  remarked  them,"  said  Rosa,  "  Fred 
had  just  commenced  speaking,  and  they  both  appear 
ed  so  intent  upon  the  orator  that  I  had  abundant 
opportunity  to  observe  them. — The  young  gentleman 
leaned  forward,  never  turning  his  eyes  away  from 
you  for  a  moment — but  the  lady,  after  a  few  mo 
ments,  fixed  her  gaze  upon  her  companion's  face 
with  a  sad,  earnest  gaze  that  was  touching  to  see. 
He  seems  to  be  an  invalid,  and  oh  !  what  divine 
eyes  he  has — has  he  not,  Charlie  ?" 

"  Really,  I  cannot  say,  as  I  did  not  observe  them," 
replied  Charlie,  a  little  coldly  ;  "  but  I  think  I  can 
tell  you  who  the  strangers  are,  if  they  were  with 
Mrs.  Greenwood.  That  lady  told  me  this  morning 


FASHIONABLE  DISSIPATION.  23 

that  she  had  some  guests  whom  she  expects  us  to 
call  upon.  Their  name  is  Guyarre — they  are  of  a 
distinguished  family,  orphans,  wealthy,  and  from  the 
South. 

"  That 's  a  brief  summing  up  of  a  great  many 
merits,"  said  Frederick.  "  Was  the  lady  young  and 
beautiful?" 

"  She  was  both  young  and  beautiful,"  replied 
Margaret ;  "  and  more,  her  beauty  was  of  so  pe 
culiar  a  kind  as  to  make  it  doubly  attractive.  Ah  ! 
Fred,  you  little  suspected  that  so  much  was  at  stake 
to-night,  when  you  favored  us  with  your  eloquence." 

t{  Ha !  well !  we'll  go  in  state  to-morrow  ;  I  guess 
that  Jube  and  the  jet  black  ponies  and  the  new 
carriage  will  make  a  turn-out  worthy  of  ourselves 
and  those  we  wish  to  distinguish.  I'm  all  delight 
and  expectation  ;  something  to  break  the  monotony 
of  this  dull  summer !" 

"Don't  let  anticipation  prevent  your  sleeping  to 
night,  for  your  good  looks  sake,"  warned  Rosa,  as 
she  took  Lennard's  arm  ;  and  the  matter  of  the  visit 
being  settled,  the  lovers  walked  up  and  down  the 
avenue  before  the  mansion,  having  a  little  social 
conference  to  themselves. 

"  You  appeared  to  be  really  in  earnest  to  night, 
and  to  feel  what  you  said  in  your  address,"  remarked 


24  FASHIONABLE  DISSIPATION. 

the  young  girl.     "  I  did  not  know  that  you  felt  any 
especial  interest  in  the  subject." 

"  I  do  feel  a  deep  interest  in  the  subject,"  said 
her  lover,  pausing  in  the  shadow  of  the  maple  trees, 
and  pressing  her  little  hands,  "  and  I  was  pained  at 
the  tenor  of  your  brother's  remarks ;  for,  Rosa, 
darling,  it  is  true  that  I  myself  feel  sometimes  the 
need  of  other  restraint  than  my  judgment.  The  love 
of  wine  is  a  weakness,  a  passion  which  I  share  with 
thousands  of  others,  and  which  I  have  to  struggle 
against,  and  the  struggle  is  harder  because  tempta 
tion  is  so  frequent.  In  the  houses  of  my  friends, 
from  the  hands  of  my  relatives,  and  even  the  dear 
hand  of  my  Rosa,  among  my  youthful  companions — 
where  I  dine — where  I  sup — where  I  amuse  myself — 
I  see  the  cup  and  am  compelled  to  take  it.  I  wish 
that  it  were  otherwise,  for  had  I  not  all  that  firmness 
and  perhaps  even  obstinacy  of  character  which  I  do 
possess — were  I  not  usually  cool,  calm  and  disci 
plined  in  my  feelings,  I  imagine  the  danger  with  me 
would  be  great.  So  that  I  am  prepared,  out  of  the 
knowledge  of  my  own  infirmity,  to  pity  others,  and  to 
aid  them  if  I  can.  And  it  is  the  fear  that  Frederick 
has  given  encouragement  to  some  one  less  strong  than 
myself,  to  abandon  himself  to  his  inclinations,  which 
disturbs  me.  A  little  help  given  to  the  wrong  side, 


FASHIONABLE  DISSIPATION.  25 

which  has  already  such  powerful  pleaders  in  the  pas 
sions  of  men,  lends  it  a  fresh  impetus. 

"  He  was  thoughtless,"  said  the  fair  girl,  with 
more  than  her  usual  seriousness.  "  But  he  is  so 
strong,  so  confident ,  and  fearless  himself,  that  he  de 
spises  all  weakness  in  others,  and  thinks  that  every 
man  must  stand  or  fall  for  himself.  But  is  it  true, 
Charles,  that  you  are  in  danger  of  falling  *  You  are 
the  very  last  person  I  should  have  dreamed  of." 

"  No,  Rosa,  I  do  not  fear  that  I  shall  be  tempted 
beyond  my  strength,  for  I  would  not  feel  at  liberty, 
while  haunted  by  such  a  curse,  to  seek  an  innocent 
and  happy  girl  as  a  wife.  I  love  you  too  well  to 
make  you  a  drunkard's  wife.  I  confessed  my  failing 
to  you,  out  of  a  selfish  motive  partly — that  I  might 
have  your  sympathy,  and  perhaps  a  little  of  your 
admiration,  too,  little  Rosa,  for  the  firmness  with 
which  I  guard  myself,  eh  ?"  and  he  laughed,  and 
confessed  likewise  to  a  strong  inclination  to  kiss 
away  the  tears  which  had  fallen  on  the  cheeks  of  the 
maiden — which  latter  weakness,  not  seeing  in  the 
happy  state  of  affairs  between  them  any  reason  why 
he  should  deny  himself,  he  probably  indulged. 

At  least,  when  they  emerged  into  the  full  June 
moonlight,  there  was  a  deeper  glow  than  usual  on 
Rosa's  face,  and  a  satisfied  smile  upon  Charlie's.- 


26  FASHIONABLE  DISSIPATION. 

Just  then,  Maggie's  sweet  voice  was  heard,  calling 
her  to  come  in  out  of  the  dew,  which  wise  command 
she  lingeringly  obeyed.  Young  Lennard  sung  out  a 
cheerful  good  night  to  the  group  on  the  piazza  :  and 
soon  a  silvery  veil  of  slumber,  gentle  dreams,  moon 
light  and  balmy  slumbers,  rested  upon  the  household. 
The  next  morning  at  breakfast  the  strangers  were 
again  the  most  interesting  theme  for  conversation  ; 
and  at  as  early  an  hour  as  suited  Frederick's  dignity, 
the  carriage  was  ordered.  The  young  gentleman 
even  went  himself  to  the  stables  to  assure  Jupiter, 
the  coachman,  that  it  was  all  important  that  he  should 
do  justice  to  the  Lee  family.  That  ebony  piece  of 
pomposity  with  a  flourish  that  would  have  done  credit 
to  his  young  master  himself,  assured  him  that  the 
respectability  of  the  family  should  be  maintained. — 
The  consequences  were  that  the  turn-out  was  never 
more  faultless.  There  was  a  quiet  richness  and 
grave  splendor  in  the  high  spirited  black  ponies,  the 
handsome  but  not  guady  carriage,  the  glittering  har 
ness  and  the  shining  solemn  face  of  Jupiter,  which 
contrasted  excellently  with  the  cheerful  looks  and 
spirits  of  the  party  on  the  velvet  cushioned  seats,  a3 
they  rolled  onward  to  the  town.  As  they  passed 
his  uncle's  office  on  Main  street,  they  stopped  and 
took  in  Charles  Lennard  ;  proceeding  on  to  the  tree- 


FASHIONABLE  DISSIPATION.  27 

ehadowed  avenues  adorned  with  the  dwellings  of  the 
rich,  they  were  soon  at  Mrs.  Greenwood's. 

That  lady's  guests  were  not  in  the  room  when  she 
received  them,  but  after  a  brief  delay,  Miss  Guyarre 
came  in.  She  had  been  sitting  with  her  brother 
who  was  ill  and  not  able  to  leave  his  room  that  mor 
ning. 

Frederick  Lee  forgot  his  vain  determination  to 
please,  when  she  glided  into  the  room,  she  came  so 
like  a  star,  serene  and  radiant.  Her  beauty  was  in 
deed  attractive  by  its  peculiarity.  Her  complexion 
was  a  clear  pale  olive  with  the  slightest  tint  of  crim 
son  on  her  cheeks,  but  richly  colored  lips ;  her  face 
was  a  charming  oval  with  delicate  features  and  large 
heavily  fringed  black  eyes,  lustrous  black  hair  and 
an  altogether  sweet  and  beautiful  expression.  She 
was  small  and  slender ;  with  a  form  daintily  round 
and  full.  In  all  her  gestures,  words  and  looks  there 
was  a  grace  as  simple  yet  so  ineffable,  so  becomingly 
her  own,  that  it  was  more  winning  even  than  her 
beauty. 

When  Mr.  Lennard  was  introduced  to  her  a  look 
of  pleasure  and  recognition  brightened  her  face,  but 
no  such  gratifying  manner  marked  her  reception  of 
Mr.  Frederick  Lee,  despite  of  that  gentleman's  con 
fident  assertion  that  he  had  had  the  sympathies  of  the 


28  FASHIONABLE  DISSIPATION. 

feminine  portion  of  his  audience  on  the  preceding 
evening.  He  saw  by  a  glance  at  his  sisters  that  the 
young  stranger  had  gained  their  affections,  and  as 
Margaret  and  Rosa  were  each  in  their  way  also  emi 
nently  formed  to  please;  and  as  Mrs.  Greenwood 
especially  made  known  that  she  relied  a  great  deal 
upon  them  to  make  the  few  weeks'  visit  of  her  friends 
agreeable,  there  seemed  to  be  every  chance  that  he 
should  have  an  opportunity  of  doing  away  with  any 
unfavorable  impression  Miss  Guyarre  might  have 
formed  of  him.  So"  he  dashed  into  the  conversation 
•with  his  wonted  vivacity ;  while  very  much  to  his 
secret  chargin  the  peerless  creature  he  had  so  instan 
taneously  admired,  though  attentive  to  all,  fixed  her 
eyes  upon  his  companion  with  unusual  interest  when 
ever  he  spoke. 

A  shade  of  melancholy  passed  over  Miss  Guyarre's 
face  when  she  spoke  of  the  ill-health  of  her  brother, 
but  it  passed  away  without  disturbing  the  sweet  se 
renity  of  her  countenance. 

The  first  brief  call  was  soon  over.  When  the  party 
were  again  in  their  carriage,  the  fear  of  being  ex 
travagant  did  not  check  their  praise  ;  they  commend 
ed,  without  measure,  all  but  Frederick,  whose  silence 
was  taken  by  his  merry  companions  to  be  more  ex 
pressive  than  words  : 


FASHIONABLE  DISSIPATION.  29 

"  Did  you  notice  her  hands  ?  so  small,  so  exqui 
site  ?"  asked  Rosa. 

"  But  her  eyes  !  and  her  sweet  manners  and  voice," 
said  Charlie. 

"  And  her  complexion,  so  pure,  pale  and  trans 
parent,  revealing  that  bewitching  tracery  of  crimson 
veins  in  her  cheeks,"  added  Margaret.  "  Did  not 
Mrs.  Greenwood  call  her  Blanche  ?  Blanche  Gruy- 
arre  !  an  appropriate  name/' 

"  She  is  like  a  lilly,  is  she  not  ?  so  graceful, '  so 
perfect,  so  placid  and  yet  bright,  and  with  such  a 
breath  of  fragrance  about  her  !  like  just  such  lilies 
as  bloom  beneath  those  brilliant  southern  skies  where 
she  grew  up,"  ran  on  Rosa  with  the  warmth  of  her 
generous  nature,  unable  to  praise  enough  this  fair 
being  who  had  enchained  her  fancy.  "  Yes,  Blanche 
is  her  befitting  name,  for  her  fairness  is  unequalled. 
Fred,  why  don't  you  say  something  ?" 

"  You  two  girls  have  exhausted  the  alphabet  of 
magnificent  phrases,  and  I  cannot  say  anything  with 
out  being  accused  of  plagiarism,"  was  the  rather  sullen 
reply.  «  However,  Charlie,  either  my  sisters  are  the 
best-natured  girls  in  the  world,  or  else  women  are 
not  as  envious  of  each  other,  and  have  not  half  the 
malice  in  their  hearts  that  we've  been  taught  to  be 
lieve.  What  do  you  think  ?" 


30  FASHIONABLE  DISSIPATION. 

"Think,"  interrupted  Rosa ;  "  He  does  not  think 
where  I  am— that  is,  anything  ill  of  us.  If  half  the 
self-esteem,  vanity,  unpardonable  conceit,  jealousy 
and  wickedness  in  general,  existed  among  us  that 
there  does  with  the  gentlemen,  I  do  not  believe  the 
world  would  live  a  century  !" 

"  If  you  let  your  little  woman  talk  to  you  in  that 
way  now,  Lennard,  I  wonder  what  will  be  her  pre 
sumption  when  she  comes  to  have  a  still  better 
right  ?" 

"  She  may  have  to  exercise  more  discretion,"  was 
the  quiet  reply.  "  Oh  !  you  still,  cautious,  determin 
ed  man !  I  declare  I  am  afraid  of  you ;  I  should  not 
wonder  if  you  did  prove  to  be  a  real  tyrant,"  spoke 
up  Rosa  in  some  dismay.  Lennard  laughed,  without 
seeking  to  defend  himself  from  her  fears  j  but  as  he 
lifted  her  from  the  carriage,  there  was  a  gentleness 
in  his  eye  which  re-assured  her  of  his  kind  dispo 
sition. 

Late  the  next  day  as  Frederick  Lee  was  wandering 
up  and  down  the  portico  and  across  the  lawn,  he  saw 
Mrs.  Greenwood's  barouche  rolling  along  the  avenue. 
The  Guyarres,  brother  and  sister,  were  within.  As 
it  was  after  sunset,  the  latter  wore  no  bonnet ;  her 
hair  was  arranged  in  the  Spanish  fashion,  adorned 
with  flowers,  and  she  wore  also  the  Spanish  white 


FASHIONABLE  DISSIPATION.  31 

'dress  and  black  mantilla.  Of  course  he  managed  to 
be  upon  the  steps  when  the  carriage  stopped,  to  help 
the  ladies  out. 

It  was  the  brother  this  time  who  had  to  have  his 
place  assigned  him  silently  in  the  minds  of  the  Lees. 
He,  too,  had  a  grace  of  manner  that  immediately  won 
favor.  He  was  not  handsome,  he  was  too  thin  and 
sallow  to  be  strictly  beautiful,  but  he  had  his  sister's 
winning  smile,  and  his  eyes  were  large  and  dark, 
with  a  melancholy  magnificence  about  them,  for  either 
illness  or  some  other  cause  had  filled  them  with  con 
stant  sadness,  except  when  something  struck  harshly 
upon  his  sensitive  and  fiery  soul ;  they  had  then  a 
fire  and  glow  that  was  more  than  animated. 

He  was  not  tall,  but  his  form  was  so  slender  ana 
his  demeanor  so  princely  that  he  did  not  appear  as 
small  as  he  really  was. 

Margaret  was  not  willing  that  the  call  should  be  a 
brief  one.  They  walked  about  the  gardens  and 
through  the  maple-groves  until  dark.  Blanche  Guy- 
arre  was  particularly  delighted  with  the  roses  j  it 
was  the  season  when  they  were  in  full  fragrance  and 
bloom,  and  there  were  seventy  or  eighty  varieties  in 
Margaret's  collection. 

"  And  look,  Pierre,  at  these  beautiful  maple  trees," 


32  FASHIONABLE  DISSIPATION. 

she  cried  j  "so  stately,  so  cool !  I  wish  we  had  some 
of  them  around  our  villa  at  Magnolia  Vale." 

When  they  returned  to  the  house,  as  the  evening 
was  warm  and  they  had  been  riding  in  the  dust,  our 
hospitable  Maggie  had  refreshments  brought  in. 

As  the  servant  came  in  with  a  salver,  Blanche 
Guyarre  could  not  refrain  from  casting  an  uneasy 
glance  upon  it.  If  she  was  afraid  of  seeing  wine,  she 
was  relieved  from  her  fears,  for  Mr.  Lee  was  too 
strict  in  practice  as  well  as  preaching  to  offer  it  to 
guests  or  keep  it  upon  his  table,  despite  of  the  dan 
ger  of  exciting  fashionable  ridicule.  Iced-creams 
with  some  freshly-gathered  strawberries  tasted  de- 
liciously  after  the  sultriness  of  the  day. 

From  that  time  began  so  great  a  friendship  be 
tween  all  these  young  people  that  Mrs  Greenwood 
laughingly  declared  that  she  did  not  know  whether 
her  niece  and  nephew  were  her  guests  or  Mr.  Lee's. 

Of  course  the  Guyarres',  coming  from  the  South, 
were  skilful  in  horsemanship ;  and  as  if  on  purpose 
to  increase  the  pleasure  of  their  visit,  the  weather 
continued  unusually  cool  for  the  month  of  June  ;  so 
that  after  every  little  sprinkle  of  rain  or  heavy  dew 
which  would  lay  the  dust,  a  gay  cavalcade  brightened 
the  gloom  of  the  forest  roads  around  C ,  and 


FASHIONABLE  DISSIPATION.  33 

made  musical  all  the  echoes  lurking  in  the  pictur 
esque  paths  around. 

Margaret  and  Rosa  had  heretofore  prided  them 
selves  upon  their  equestrian  accomplishments  ;  but 
they  willingly  yielded  the  palm  to  Blanche.  When 
she  sat  upon  her  horse,  with  her  waving  hair,  beau 
tiful  face,  and  light,  aerial  figure,  controlling  with 
ease  the  most  spirited  animal,  it  seemed  made  for 
her  expressly. 

Frederick  had  never  seemed  so  elate,  so  joyous. 
He  scarcely  found  time  to  teaze  little  Lily,  but  was 
constantly  engaged  in  planning  amusements  and 
carrying  them  into  effect.  As  for  Lily  she  was  the 
especial  pet  of  Blanche  Guyarre,  and  repaid  that 
bright  creature's  caresses  with  an  evident  affection 
and  an  admiration  that  knew  no  bounds. 

Her  golden  curls  and  roseate  cheeks  looked  fair 
against  Blanche's  pale  white  shoulders  .and  raven 
hair. 

They  had  music,  too,  in  profusion,  at  Maple 
Grove. 

Pierre  Guyarre  seemed  to  love  his  guitar  better 
than  anything  else  except  his  sister.  He  sung  soft, 
impassioned  Spanish  and  Italian  airs  in  a  voice  of 
such  liquid  sweetness,  touching  the  strings  of  his 
guitar  with  so  cunning  a  hand,  that  a  fine  flood  of 


34  FASHIONABLE  DISSIPATION. 

tender  melody  seemed  to  fill  the  air  so  full  that  there 
was  scarcely  room  for  breath,  and  even  the  roses 
hanging  nodding  in  at  the  window,  grew  still,  and 
their  fragrance  seemed  to  die  away  in  a  trance. 

Rosa  hardly  dared  to  touch  the  piano  when  he  had 
finished  singing — it  sounded  loud  and  coarse  after 
such  gentleness  of  music,  but  he  used  to  urge  her 
with  a  kind  of  eager  entreaty  which  she  could  not 
resist.  He  would  sit  near  and  gaze  upon  her  face, 
while  she  warbled  forth  those  sparkling  melodies  most 
like  her  own  laughing  temperament,  her  light  fingers 
flying  over  the  keys  with  a  fairy  touch. 

In  this  company,  so  distinguished  for  grace  and 
gayety  and  so  happily  thrown  together,  there  were 
two  or  three  jarring  elements  that  sometimes  refused 
to  blend  in  the  harmony.  With  all  his  happiness, 
Frederick  had  some  heart  burnings.  He  could  not 
awaken  that  interest  in  the  heart  of  Blanche  that  he 
had  resolved  he  must.  His  meaning  glances,  low 
tones  and  constant  attentions  seemed  to  be  but  half 
appreciated.  He  had  reason  to  be  jealous  of  no  one 
but  her  brother.  Between  these  two  the  strongest 
affection  existed.  She  seemed  uneasy  if  away  from 
him ;  if  he  smiled,  her  face  brightened ;  if  he  was 
unusually  sad,  nothing  could  attract  her  from  his 
side.  That  they  were  orphans,  with  no  very  near  re- 


FASHIONABLE  DISSIPATION.  35 

lations,  made  this  seem  natural.  And  young  Lee 
would  have  admired  it  very  much,  and  did.  Yet  it 
was  mortifying  to  him  that  even  he  had  to  lose  half 
his  eloquent  remarks  and  delicate  attentions,  on  ac 
count  of  that  fair  creature's  senses  being  wrapped  up 
in  her  brother. 

Another  discord  was,  that  Pierre,  instead  of  being 
charmed  with  Margaret,  as  he  should  have  been,  she 
having  no  affianced  husband  lingering  around,  and 
quite  equalling  her  sister  in  personal  beauty,  must 
needs  do,  as  love  always  does,  so  hopeless  and  wrong 
a  thing  as  to  adore  Rosa.  Her  artless  gayety  and 
fair-haired  loveliness,  from  the  very  contrast  probably 
to  his  own  manner,  and  the  beauty  he  had  been  ac 
customed  to  admire,  seemed  to  fascinate  him  beyond 
his  power  of  resistance. 

Nobody  saw  this  but  the  quick  eye  of  her  accepted 
lover.  To  his  bosom  and  Pierre,  were  confined  the 
occasional  heart-aches. 

Rosa  was  too  pure-minded  to  have  willingly  made 
anybody's  heart  ache  for  the  sake  of  administering  to 
her  vanity.  Knowing  that  Pierre  must  be  aware  of 
her  engagement  with  Charles,  she  was  all  vivacity 
and  kindness ;  singing  for  him,  riding  with  him,  de 
lighting  him  as  she  did  others  with  her  mischievoui 


36  FASHIONABLE  DISSIPATION. 

frolics.  Perhaps  she  enjoyed  his  attentions  the  more, 
that  she  was  so  soon  to  be  deprived  of  such  liberty ; 
so  that  Charles  had  more  than  once  to  feel  that  a 
woman  is  a  tyrant  with  what  power  she  has. 


CHAPTER  III. 

« I  WISH,  Miss  Guyarre,  that  I  was  old  enough  to 
go  with  you  to  the  pic-nic  to-morrow,"  said  Lily,  as 
she  nestled  up  beside  their  visiter  upon  the  sofa. 

"  You  are  plenty  old  enough,  Lily,  and  you  shall 
go,  if  Maggie  will  only  consent.  Go  and  ask  her. 
Tell  her  that  Pierre  will  carry  you  with  him  upon 
his  horse." 

"  But  it  will  not  be  necessary,"  said  the  little  girl, 
proudly,  "  I  can  ride  as  well  as  Rosa,  or  Fred,  or 
any  one,  and  I  have  a  pony  of  my  own  !" 

"  Is  it  possible  !  that  will  be  charming.  You  shall 
be  my  maid  of  honor,  keeping  by  my  side  to  receive 
a  small  portion  of  the  gallantry  that  will  be  uselessly 
lavished  upon  me." 

"  Miss  Lee,"  she  continued  as  Margaret  came  in 
to  the  room,  "  I  want  to  ask  you  to  let  Lily  go  with 
us  to-morrow.  I  wish  her  to  so  much  !" 

"  You  will  spoil  the  child  by  so  much  attention, 

4  37 


38  FASHIONABLE  DISSIPATION. 

I  'm  afraid,"  was  the  smiling  reply.  "  I  do  not  know 
who  will  engage  to  escort  so  youthful  a  lady." 

"  I  am  to  be  her  maid  of  honor — I  don't  want  any 
escort — please,  sister  Maggie,  please  let  me  go  !" 

"So  you  have  elected  yourself  Queen  already, 
have  you  1"  asked  Margaret,  laughingly,  at  her  guest. 

The  fair  Southerner  blushed  at  even  being  accused 
of  such  vanity.  For  a  creature  so  gifted  with  grace 
and  beauty,  wealth  and  high  birth,  she  was  the  most 
unconscious  of  the  impression  she  universally  made. 

"  All  the  ladies  shall  be  queens,"  she  said  gently, 
"  each  to  the  one  who  owns  her  so.  I,  for  the  want 
of  a  loyal  subject,  must  keep  up  appearances  by  hav 
ing  an  attendant.  So  you  must  consent  to  let  Lily 

go." 

Miss  Lee  patted  the  golden  curls  and  said  ft  Yes," 
when  away  they  flew  to  seek  a  resting-place  against 
the  vest  of  Frederick,  who  stood  by  the  window, 
pulling  a  rose  to  pieces  impatiently,  his  feelings  hav 
ing  been  disturbed  by  the  last  sentences  uttered  by 
the  young  lady  upon  the  sofa. 

"  Isn't  she  an  angel  ?"  whispered  Lily,  as  she 
hugged  him  for  joy  to  think  of  the  promised  plea- 
dure. 

"  Who  ?"  was  the  cool  question. 

"  Why,  Blanche,  of  course — say,  isn't  sbe  ?" 


FASHIONABLE  DISSIPATION.  39 

.  "  I  wish  you  would  be  more  polite,  little  one,  and 
say  Miss  Guyarre,"  was  all  the  reply  she  got  from 
the  surly  fellow,  who  was  angry  because  Lily  had 
privileges  which  he  had  not,  of  saying  Blanche,  and 
sitting  close  up  by  her  on  the  sofa,  and  being  the 
recipient  of  numberless  caresses  and  the  like.  No 
wonder  he  was  irritable  ! 

Mr.  Lee  half  thought  that  the  days  of  beauty  and 
chivalry  had  returned  us  he  sat  the  next  morning  in 
his  arm  chair  on  the  piazza,  and  watched  the  gay 
party  who  were  caracoling  their  steeds,  riding  up 
and  down  the  avenue,  and  darting  in  and  out  of 
the  maple  grove,  laughing  and  shouting  as  they 
waited  for  the  cavalcade  from  the  village,  who  were 
to  pass  that  way  on  their  ride  to  the  pic-nic  ground, 
ten  miles  away.  A  brief  shower  falling  during  the 
night,  had  cooled  the  air  and  laid  the  dust,  and  was 
still  sparkling  here  and  there  upon  the  grass,  the 
waving  branches  of  the  trees,  and  the  rose-bushes, 
beneath  each  of  which  latter  a  rosy  carpet  of  leaves, 
shaken  down  by  the  rain,  announced  that  their 
blooming  was  almost  over. 

The  expected  party  was  soon  seen  dashing  down 
the  road  and  with  a  sweep  and  glitter,  away  go  our  par 
ticular  friends — the  delicate  and  princely  Pierre  upon 
his  coal  black  steed,  by  the  side  of  Rosa,  whose  fair 


40  FASHIONABLE  DISSIPATION. 

curls  flutter  in  the  breeze — Lermard  and  the  stately 
Margaret  side  by  side — and  Blanche,  the  beautiful, 
upon  her  fiery  horse,  her  dark  hair  shining  purple  in 
the  sun,  her  slender  figure  buoyant  with  life  and 
grace,  the  little  Lily  on  her  white  pony  keeping  close, 
her  blue  ribbons  and  golden  ringlets  streaming  about 
her  face,  with  Frederick,  the  handsome,  the  brilliant, 
making  his  horse  curvet  superbly  upon  her  other 
hand. 

Mr.  Lee  arose  from  his  chair  and  leaned  against 
a  column  of  the  portico,  to  keep  them  in  sight  as 
long  as  possible,  they  made  so  pleasing  an  array  as 
they  sped  along  the  road,  their  merry  laughter  float 
ing  back  upon  the  wind,  and  when  they  were  finally 
lost  beyond  the  wood,  he  found  himself  repeating 
Praed's  poetry  to  himself : 

The  sun  shone  bright  on  hill  and  grove — 

It  was  a  glorious  day  '. 
The  lords  and  ladies  were  making  love, 

And  the  clowns  were  making  hay  : — 

at  which  he  laughed  and  returned  to  his  book. 

The  pic-nic  prospered  better  than  the  most,  seeing 
there  was  no  change  of  weather  to  dampen  its  plea 
sures,  nor  melting  away  of  desirable  refreshments. — 
The  accident  which  did  at  length  destroy  the  happi- 


FASHIONABLE  DISSIPATION.  41 

ness  of  some  in  it,  arose  from  there  being  too  costly 
an  abundance  of  the  latter. 

Pierre  Guyarre,  who  for  the  last  few  days  had 
seemed  to  be  gaining  rapidly  in  health  and  spirits, 
had  started  out  upon  the  excursion  with  unusual  gay- 
ety,  but  something  happening  in  Rosa's  manner,  or 
more  likely  in  Lennard's,  to  chafe  his  sensitive  feel 
ings,  he  had  gradually  grown  silent  and  almost  sullen. 
When  the  ladies  had  arranged  their  rural  repast  upon 
the  grass,  contrary  to  all  customs  of  the  shepherds 
and  shepherdesses  they  should  have  imitated,  a  basket 
of  wine  made  its  appearance.  Blanche  grew  pale 
and  uneasy  as  she  saw  her  brother  quaff  eagerly, 
glass  after  glass.  She  contrived  to  change  her  seat 
and  get  by  his  side  to  whisper  a  remonstrance  in  his 
ear,  but  he  paid  only  a  momentary  attention,  and  his 
thirst  seemed  so  excessive,  that  even  the  gentlemen 
began  to  regard  the  young  southerner  with  some  sur 
prise.  The  rest  continued  to  eat  and  talk,  and  be 
merry  or  witty  as  their  mood  might  be,  while  Pierre 
continued  to  drink,  until  his  voice  grew  loud,  his 
eyes  glowing,  and  his  manner  unpleasant. 

His  sister  could  not  conceal  her  distress ;  she  be 
came  silent,  and  regarded  him  with  glances  of  entreaty. 
At  last  she  was  constrained  to  beg  of  Lennard  to 
endeavor  to  persuade  him  away  from  the  party  until 


42  FASHIONABLE  DISSIPATION. 

be  became  calm.  This  Leonard  in  the  most  delicate 
manner  attempted  to  do  ;  but  it  was  unfortunate  he 
should  have  addressed  him  just  then,  for  some  secret 
sense  of  injury  received  from  that  gentleman,  was 
what  had  urged  his  passionate  spirit  to  throw  off  re 
straint  and  indulge  in  the  temptation  before  him. 
He  replied  angrily  to  Lennard's  cheerful  invitation 
to  walk  with  him,  and  appeared  so  changed  from  the 
gentle,  graceful  and  attractive  stranger  whom  every 
one  had  esteemed,  that  the  ladies,  remembering  vari 
ous  rumors  of  the  bowie-knives  and  pistols  which 
made  the  chivalrous  southerners  so  dangerous  when 
irritated,  began  to  shrink  from  the  scene  of  contest, 
and  cling  to  the  arms  of  their  braver  companions. 

"  He  may  kill  somebody  !"  exclaimed  one  thought 
less  damsel  who  was  standing  close  to  Blanche. 

"Oh,  no!  he  will  not — he  has  no  weapons!"  she 
said  quickly,  but  the  trial  was  too  much  for  her,  and 
she  burst  into  tears. 

Frederick  Lee  felt  as  if  he  could  have  killed  half 
a  dozen  people  when  he  saw  those  tears,  and  that 
foolish  brother  in  particular.  He  came  to  her  side, 
where  his  sisters  already  were — 

"  Let  us  go  home,"  said  Blanche.  "  Oh,  Mr.  Lee, 
try  and  persuade  him  to  get  into  Mrs.  Greenwood's 


FASHIONABLE  DISSIPATION.  43 

carriage,  and  we  will  go  with  him.  He  is  perfectly 
ungovernable  when  he  is  so  much  excited." 

After  a  disagreeable  parley,  Pierre  was  led  by 
Frederick  to  the  carriage,  and  he  with  Blanche  and 
Mrs.  Greenwood,  drove  away  from  the  scene  of  their 
discomfiture. 

"  This  is  partly  your  fault,  Mr.  Lee,"  said  Blanche, 
as  she  took  her  handkerchief  from  her  eyes,  after 
they  had  passed  over  a  mile  or  two  of  their  way  home. 

"  How  so,  Miss  G-uyarre,"  he  asked  in  surprise. 

"  He  had  not  touched  wine  for  a  year,  and  was 
pledged  never  to  do  so,  when  we  attended  that  tem 
perance  meeting  the  night  after  our  arrival  here  ; 
but  your  rhetoric  was  so  specious,  the  pictures 
you  drew  of  the  bewitching  Lotos ;  the  bewil 
dering  opium  ;  the  cheering  social  glass,  were  so 
alluring  to  his  long  stifled  passion,  that  with  his 
soul  on  fire,  he  hastened  from  the  hall  to  drown  it  in 
the  forbidden  flood,  and  returned  to  me  that  night 
delirious.  This  was  the  reason  of  his  sudden  illness. 
His  organization  is  so  delicate,  his  nerves  so  finely 
strung  that  such  excess  almost  destroys  him." 

The  sadness  and  bitterness  of  her  reproach,  and 
the  heavy  sigh  which  followed  it,  were  felt  so  keenly 
by  Fredrick,  that  he  submitted  to  them  in  silence,  too 
much  grieved  and  humiliated  to  attempt  to  defend 


44  FASHIONABLE  DISSIPATION. 

himself.  She  saw  that  he  was  mortified,  and  gave 
him  a  forgiving  smile,  which  almost  caused  him  to 
jump  out  of  the  barouche  with  a  mingled  agony  of 
love  and  repentance.  However,  he  remained  in, 
which  was  best,  for  Pierre  was  quite  ill  by  the  time 
they  reached  the  village,  giving  him  a  slight  chance 
to  atone,  by  the  kindness  with  which  he  waited  by 
the  sufferer's  bed  for  the  rest  of  that  day  and  night. 

When  Pierre  Guyarre  came  to  his  senses,  his 
chagrin  and  shame  came  near  throwing  him  into  a 
serious  fever.  His  self-abasement  was  too  great. 
He  refused  to  see  any  one  but  his  sister  and  Fred 
erick,  and  did  not  leave  his  room  for  several  days. 
His  secret  and  his  sharpest  pain  was  that  he  should 
have  degraded  himself  before  Rosa. 

That  she  knew  his  weakness — that  she  had  lost 
her  respect  for  him — was  so  bitter  to  think  upon, 
that  he  resolved  never  more  to  see  her  face,  but  to 
remain  in  his  chamber  under  the  plea  of  sickness, 
until  Blanche  was  ready  to  go  back  to  their  own 
home.  He  became  so  melancholy  that  he  did  not 
even  desire  to  follow  out  their  original  plan  of  spend 
ing  a  part  of  the  summer  at  Newport. 

It  was  Rosa  herself,  who  diverted  him  from  this 
morbid  state  of  mind.  As  he  would  not  come  forth 
and  enjoy  himself,  she,  after  sending  Blanche  in  as 


FASHIONABLE  DISSIPATION.  45 

$ 
a  herald,  burst  upon  him  in  his  retirement,  so  glad, 

so  blooming,  so  seemingly  unconscious  of  anything 
painful,  that  his  impressible  soul  arose  out  of  its  des 
pondency  to  the  opposite  extreme  of  exhiliration.  He 
heaved  a  sigh  of  relief,  and  a  smile,  his  own  most 
bright  and  winning  smile,  sprung  to  his  lips  before 
she  had  finished  her  first  rapid  sentence. 

"  I  have  good  news,  Mr.  Gruyarre,  good  news  for 
me  at  least ;  we  are  all  going  with  you  to  Newport 
next  week !  Fred,  Mr.  Lennard,  myself,  even  our 
quiet  Maggie  has  been  prevailed  to  leave  house-keep 
ing  to  the  house-keepers  and  make  one  of  our  number. 
What  a  party  we  shall  be  !  Mrs.  Greenwood  for 
matron  !  Will  we  not  enjoy  ourselves  ?  Maggie  was 
reluctant  about  going,  because  papa  would  not  accom 
pany  us  and  Lily — but  he  had  rather  remain  at  home 
and  keep  the  house  open.  What  do  you  say  ?  Ah  ! 
I  see  you  are  glad,  by  your  smile !"  and  she  held  out 
her  hand  to  him. 

He  grasped  it  as  if  he  were  a  drowning  man,  and 
it  were  a  straw,  so  eagerly,  so  closely, — 

"  Rosa,"  he  said,  "  you  bewilder  me  with  joy  !" 

And  he  looked  as  much  as  he  said,  but  she  did 
not  understand  him,  and  continued  her  vivacious 
chat,  untouched  by  the  tell-tale  glow  of  his  manner. 

Blanche  saw  that  he  was  happy,  and  her  own  anx- 


46  FASHIONABLE  DISSIPATION. 

ious  look  disappeared.  From  being  as  wilful  in  his 
unhappiness  as  a  man  could  be,  he  softened  down  in 
to  his  old  sweet  compliance  ;  so  that  the  two  girls 
led  him  down  in  triumph  to  the  parlor,  looking  him 
self  again. 

Margaret  and  Rosa  had  never  been  to  Newport. 
Their  father  had  a  prejudice  against  allowing  very 
young  ladies  to  mingle  in  such  gay  crowds,  and  it  had 
only  been  through  the  all  powerful  pleading  of  the 
"  only  son"  that  the  desired  consent  had  been  given. 
When  it  came,  however,  it  was  so  cheerful  as  to  do 
away  with  all  Maggie's  reluctance  to  go.  They 
applied  to  Mrs.  Greenwood  for  all  the  little  know 
ledges  of  toilets  and  the  like  which  her  experience 
made  valuable ;  and  the  few  days  of  preparation 
passed  swiftly  away. 

It  was  now  in  the  middle  of  July,  and  the  wea 
ther  very  warm,  they  found  Newport  sufficiently 
crowded  for  all  purposes  of  comfort  and  gayety. 
The  arrival  of  their  party  created  as  much  excite 
ment  as  any  event  can  among  the  jaded  fashionables 
who  assemble  there.  It  was  a  rare  thing,  even  for 
Newport,  to  be  graced  by  so  large  a  party,  every 
member  of  which  had  so  much  to  render  it  distin 
guished. 

Mrs.  Greenwood,  the  chaperon  of  the  young  ladies, 


FASHIONABLE  DISSIPATION.  47 

had  spent  the  summers  for  several  years  between 
Saratoga  and  Newport ;  and  her  claims  to  considera 
tion  as  a  lady  of  undoubted  fashion  and  supreme 
elegance  were  already  acknowledged.  That  she  was 
not  beautiful,  only  made  the  younger  ladies  appear 
more  so.  Such  people  as  the  Southerners,  whose 
immense  wealth  was  soon  rumored  about,  and  of  such 
youth  and  grace,  were  welcomed  as  stars  of  the  first 
magnitude,  everybody  longing  to  borrow  a  little 
lustre  by  introducing  themselves  into  the  circle  which 
they  illuminated.  Margaret  would  be  attractive 
anywhere — Rosa  was  adorable — Frederick  sparkling 
and  splendid — Lennard  pleasing,  elegant,  eminently 
refined.  Mrs.  Greenwood  knew  that  she  could  not 
so  successfully  have  retained  her  pre-eminence  an 
other  season,  unless  she  had  surrounded  herself  with 
such  a  halo  of  glory. 

In  that  exceedingly  common-place,  soulless  or  ex 
aggerated  state  of  sentiments  and  affairs  in  the 
world  at  Newport,  our  friends  being  very  young, 
with  much  charm  of  nature  and  freshness  of  feeling 
remaining  with  them,  found  a  great  deal  to  delight 
them,  and  to  hasten  on  the  current  of  their  hearts. 
The  beach  by  moonlight,  the  cliff,  the  glen,  the 
beautiful  music  awoke  in  their  bosoms  those  real 
emotions  which  the  more  experienced  only  affected 


48  FASHIONABLE  DISSIPATION. 

They  were  delighted  to  look  on  at  the  dancing  but 
they  did  not  dance — that  is,  the  ladies  did  not. 
They  were  contented  to  admire  their  brothers  as 
they  whirled  away  with  some  of  the  bright  young 
belles  of  their  acquaintance. 

The  influence  of  all  these  things  to  Pierre  Guyarre 
became  irresistible.  He  could  not  live  out  of  sight 
of  Kosa.  If  she  interested  herself  in  him  he  was 
wildly  gay — if  she  walked  and  talked  and  laughed 
with  Lennard,  he  was  despondent.  Blanche  began 
to  suspect  the  truth,  and  endeavored  to  warn  him, 
but  he  was  past  taking  her  gentle  advice. 

"  He  does  not  love  her  as  I  do — he  is  not  capable 
of  it !"  he  returned,  "  and  she  ought  to  be  mine — she 
must  be!" 

"  You  deceive  yourself,  Pierre,"  she  reasoned  with 
him,  "  they  will  never  be  separated,  and  ought  not  to 
be.  Do  you  not  see  that  they  are  becoming  more  at 
tached  every  day.  Look  at  them,  now,  how  content 
ed,  how  radiant  they  look — you  would  not  if  you  had 
the  power,  destroy  such  happiness  ?" 

"  No,  I  would  not ;  you  know  I  do  not  mean  to  be 
selfish,  Blanche !"  he  said,  sadly,  turning  his  eyes 
away  from  a  sight  that  he  did  not  like  to  contemplate. 

"  You  are  a  good  brother !"  she  said  with  her 
sweetest  manner,  "  and  you  know  there  is  one  person 


FASHIONABLE  DISSIPATION.  49 

• 
* 
who  loves  you  more  dearly  than  any  one  else  in  the 

world.  But  I  am  growing  jealous  of  you,  Pierre  ; 
you  have  been  the  first  to  be  unfaithful.  Here  am  I, 
ready  to  pledge  you  my  best  love  and  attention  all 
my  life  long,  yet  you  are  beginning  to  show  such 
preferences  for  others.  Fie  !  Pierre  !  I  deserve  bet 
ter  than  that !" 

"Do  you?"  he  asked,  smiling  in  return,  for  he 
could  not  help  it,  she  looked  so  lovely,  "  I  guess  that 
you  are  equally  open  to  reproof  with  myself.  Do  I 
not  see  that  Frederick  Lee  has  no  ambition  but  to 
please  my  little  Blanche?" 

The  crimson  veins  in  her  clear  cheeks  flushed, 
and  she  answered  in  a  tone  that  faltered  a  little  : 

"  I  have  no  time  to  see  it,  Pierre — I  do  not  wish 
to — T  have  no  eyes  for  any  one  but  you." 

The  suffusion  was  still  upon  her  cheeks  and  in  her 
eyes,  when  Frederick  approached  to  ask  her  to  ride 
with  him. 

"  Can  you  spare  me  ?"  she  first  asked  of  her  broth 
er,  before  she  accepted  the  invitation. 

"  Indeed  he  can,  for  Lennard  has  Rosa,  and  Mar 
garet  is  waiting  for  Pierre  to  attend  upon  her.  We 
are  all  going  out  this  afternoon,  and  the  carriages  are 
at  the  door.  There  is  a  cool  breeze  blowing,  which 
will  be  delightful." 


50  FASHIONABLE  DISSIPATION. 

•% 

Young  Guyarre  was  tempted  to  refuse  to  go  ;  but 
a  look  from  Blanche  decided  him  j  he  went  for  Mar 
garet,  and  they  were  soon  beyond  the  admiring  ob 
servation  of  the  loungers  about  the  hotel. 

A  cool  breeze,  a  gorgeous  sunset,  the  ocean,  and 
such  serene  company,  with  the  swift  motion  of  the 
ride,  might  have  soothed  Pierre's  restless  humor,  had 
not  the  couple  of  happy  lovers  who  kept  all  the  time 
within  hailing  distance,  disenchanted  the  whole  scene. 
Rosa's  ringing  laugh  and  the  confiding  way  in  which 
she  was  chatting  with  her  companion  kept  mocking 
him ;  and  when  at  last,  urged  on  by  the  gay  girl, 
Lennard  drove  rapidly  by  them,  and  Rosa  turned  her 
triumphant  beautiful  face  back  to  them,  he  gave 
himself  up  to  his  rising  temper,  and  the  rest  of  the 
ride  was  passed  in  silence.  Margaret  had  seen  him 
in  sullen  moods  before,  and  allowed  him  to  have  his 
own  way.  The  dreary  rate  at  which  he  drove,  made 
them  the  last  to  reach  the  Hotel,  where  the  rest  of 
the  party  in  the  finest  spirits  were  awaiting  them. 
As  they  had  to  be  rallied  for  their  melancholy  ap 
pearance,  it  was  more  than  the  young  gentleman 
could  bear ;  he  turned  and  left  them  abruptly,  fol 
lowed  by  Mrs.  Greenwood's  laugh  who  asserted  that, 
"  She  believed  he  had  been  refused  by  Margaret." 
It  was  now  twilight,  when,  as  they  were  pacing 


FASHIONABLE  DISSIPATION.  51 

back  and  forth  on  the  long  balcony,  Mrs.  Greenwood 
picked  up  a  piece  of  folded  paper  which  somebody 
had  dropped.  It  was  not  light  enough  where  they 
were  to  read  what  was  scribbled  upon  it,  and  which 
seemed  to  be  poetry.  As  there  was  no  address  nor 
mark  of  the  owner,  they  considered  it  fair  spoils  and 
all  crowded  laughingly  to  the  saloon  where  the  lamps 
were  being  lighted,  to  read  it. 

Frederick  had  been  leaning  against  a  column  in  a 
reverie,  bright  enough,  perhaps,  but  a  little  tinged 
with  gloom ;  for  the  pre-occupied,  unconscious  man 
ner  of  Blanche,  gave  him  a  great  many  twinges  of 
the  heart-ache. 

He  did  not  hear  what  was  passing  until  they  called 
to  him  from  the  parlors  to  come  and  listen  to  some 
stray  poetry  which  had  got  bewildered  in  Newport. 

Mrs.  Greenwood  had  commenced  the  reading  when 
he  made  his  appearance,  and  all  were  so  intent  upon 
the  lines  that  they  did  not  notice  his  consternation. 
They  ran  thus : 

A  star  hath  risen  on  our  night, 

A  beautiful,  pale  star ! 
Bewildering  us  with  too  much  light— 

The  peerless  Blanche  Guyarre ! 

Out  of  the  fragrant  Southern  skies, 

She  wandereth  from  afar, 
Entrancing  our  cold  Northern  eyes — 

The  peerless  Blanche  Guyarre  J 


52  FASHIONABLE  DISSIPATION. 

Mild  Hesper,  with  her  lustrous  face, 

Sweet  shining  from  afar, 
Ne'er  beamed  with  such  untroubled  grace 

As  peerless  Blanche  Guyarre  1 

The  rosy  east  against  the  sun 
May  shut  his  golden  bar — 

We  want  no  other  day  but  one— 
The  peerless  Blanche  Guyarre! 

She  is  the  embodied  dream  of  love— 

It's  "  bright  particular  star," 
Come  earthward  from  the  heavens  above— 

The  peerless  Blanche  Guyarre! 

I  dare  not  worship  at  her  feet, 

But  love  her  from  afar — 
The  pure,  the  beautiful,  the  sweet, 

The  peerless  Blanche  Guyarre ! 

"  Somebody  has  been  star-struck  instead  of  moon 
struck,"  laughed  Lennard. 

"  I  wonder  whose  writing  it  is,"  said  the  reader. 

"  So  do  I,"  cried  Frederick,  snatching  the  paper 
from  her  hand,  "perhaps  I  can  tell!" 

"Perhaps  you  can!"  said  Rosa,  slily,  who  had 
been  too  quick  for  him,  and  caught  a  glimpse  of  the 
manuscript — "  it  ?s  his  own  ! — it 's  Frederick's  hand 
writing,  girls !"  and  the  mischievous  girl  clapped  her 
hands  with  delight  to  see  the  burning  blush  which 
rushed  over  his  face. 

"Why,  you  little  story-teller!      When  did  you 


FASHIONABLE  DISSIPATION.  53 


ever  know  me  to  make  a  rhyme  in  my  life  ?"  he 
cried,  seizing  her  and  threatening  the  instant  an 
nihilation  of  her  curls  and  boquet,  if  she  did  not 
retract. 

In  the  midst  of  this  confusion,  he  did  not  omit  to 
steal  a  glance  at  Blanche,  who  stood  with  downcast 
eyes,  and  something  certainly  like  a  smile  upon  her 
crimsoned  cheek. 

"  I  never  did  know  you  to,"  said  Rosa,  struggling 
to  escape  from  him,  as  the  parlor  began  to  fill  with 
its  accustomed  throng,  but  the  love  of  teasing  him 
overcoming  prudence,  she  continued  the  moment  he 
released  her — "  and  I  'm  sure  the  lines  do  not  sound 
like  one  who  has  had  much  practice !  In  the  first 
place,  the  idea  of  comparing  a  woman  to  a  star,  is 
older  than  the  hills — in  the  next  place  there  is  too 
much  repetition — and  in  the  third  place,  if  the  man 
is  such  a  coward  that  he  dare  not  'Worship  at  her 
feet,'  the  lady  will  have  a  great  contempt  for  him— 
will  she  not,  my  « Peerless  Blanche  Guyarre  ?" 

"  It  is  hardly  fair  to  put  that  question  to  me," 
replied  the  graceful  girl,  raising  her  brilliant  eyes  a 
moment  to  Frederick's.  "  But  I  am  troubled  about 
Pierre.  If  anybody  present  wrote  these  lines,  he 
has  a  chance  to  prove  his  devotion  by  going  in  search 
of  my  wayward  brother!" 

5* 


54  FASHIONABLE  DISSIPATION. 

"  Oh  dear  !  it  is  always  my  brother  !  as  if  he  was 
not  old  enough  to  be  released  from  your  apron- 
string,"  fretted  Fred,  smiling  and  frowning  as  he 
started  to  obey  her  request. 

"  He  is  jealous!  you  must  excuse  him!"  whispered 
Rosa  in  her  ear. 

Young  Lee  found,  upon  inquiry,  that  Guyarre  had 
accepted  the  invitation  of  one  of  the  wildest  young 
fellows  at  the  Hotel,  to  take  supper  with  him  in  his 
private  parlor.  As  it  was  a  place  into  which  he  could 
not  very  well  intrude,  and  dreading  to  provoke  the 
wrath  of  the  sensitive  Southerner  by  an  appearance 
of  surveillance,  he  returned  to  the  company  without 
him.  Blanche  showed  so  much  solicitude  when  she 
heard  where  he  was,  that  he  resolved  to  waive  in 
ferior  considerations  and  attempt  to  get  him  away 
from  a  set,  whose  object  he  well  knew,  was  to  take 
advantage  of  the  richness  of  their  wealthy  victim,  to 
rob  him  at  play  of  enough  money  to  keep  themselves 
afloat  in  the  polite  current  of  watering  place  society. 

As  an  excuse  for  calling  him  from  his  companions, 
it  was  proposed  that  Blanche  should  send  for  him  to 
join  them  in  a  walk  upon  the  beach. 

So  Frederick  went  and  knocked  at  the  door  of 
room  No  — .  It  seemed  to  be  all  quiet  and  respect- 


FASHIONABLE  DISSIPATION.  55 

able   there,  of  course,  when   its  occupant  responded 
to  his  summons. 

"  I  have  a  message  from  his  sister  to  Mr.  Gruy- 
arre,"  said  he,  trying  to  peep  through  the  partly 
opened  door. 

"  Gruyarre,"  said  the  honorable  young  gentleman 
with  great  readiness.  "  He  is  not  here !  I  have 
not  seen  him  since  he  went  out  to  ride  this  after 
noon,"  and  he  shut  the  door  upon  the  unwelcome 
messenger. 

Frederick  knew  better,  but  he  had  not  time  to  say 
so  ;  and  probably  thought  it  best  that  he  should 
not. 

The  evening  was  not  a  pleasant  one  to  Blanche, 
although  they  walked  along  the  beach  and  met  amus 
ing  friends. 

After  she  retired  at  midnight,  she  lay  awake  the 
rest  of  the  night,  listening  for  her  brother  to  enter 
his  room,  which  was  adjoining  hers.  It  was  nearly 
daybreak  when  he  did  so  ;  and  she  expected  nothing 
less  than  that  he  would  be  unable  to  leave  it  the 
next  morning. 

And  so  he  was.  It  was  not  until  late  in  the  after 
noon  that  he  came  forth,  pale  and  haggard,  having 
refused  all  day  to  admit  any  one  but  their  servant. 
He  went  to  tea  with  his  sister,  affecting  gayetj  and 


56  FASHIONABLE  DISSIPATION. 

nonchalence,  but  he  avoided  meeting  Rosa's  eye  or 
speaking  to  her. 

In  the  evening,  however,  as  it  was  beautiful  out 
of  doors,  he  asked  her  to  walk,  and  they  with  a  dozen 
other  couple,  went  to  the  beach.  In  the  midst  of 
their  rainblings  it  so  happened  that  they  lost  them 
selves  behind  a  cliff  from  the  rest  of  the  party.  Here 
Pierre  paused,  and  suggested  that  they  should  rest 
themselves  upon  the  rock  until  their  friends  came  up, 
as  they  had  been  walking  fast. 

"  How  beautiful  the  ocean  looks,"  remarked  Rosa. 

A  thunder-storm  was  gathering  in  the  western  sky, 
but  the  moon  shone  full  and  lustrous  in  mid  heaven. 
Far  in  the  distance  the  sea  was  shadowy  and  fright 
ful,  at  their  feet  it  lay  in  glittering  splendor. 

"  Does  it  ?  I  was  not  thinking  of  the  ocean,  I 
was  thinking  of  what  a  fool  I  have  made  of  myself 
again  !"  was  the  abrupt  reply. 

"How  have  you  made  a  fool  of  yourself ?"  re 
sponded  the  young  girl,  anxious  io  save  him  any 
mortification  on  account  of  his  last  night's  dissipa 
tion.  "  Is  it  by  encouraging  that  pretty  Ellen  Smith 
to  sing  Spanish  ballads  at  you  for  nothing  ?" 

"  Rosa  Lee  !  you  've  got  to  be  serious  a  moment !" 
cried  Pierre,  fixing  his  eyes  upon  her  with  an  ex 
pression  which  awed  her  at  once — it  was  so  intense 


FASHIONABLE  DISSIPATION.  57 

—so  almost  threatening.  "  You  know  how  I  have 
twice  made  a  fool  of  myself  in  your  company,  but 
you  may  not  know  that  it  was  my  mad  despair  at 
your  indifference  each  time  that  urged  me  on.  You 
have  got  to  know  it  now,  for  I  cannot  help  telling 
you. — And  I  shall  be  worse  unless  you  make  me 
better.  Ah  !  Rosa,  do  not  turn  away — I  am  not  my 
true  self,  except  when  you  regard  me  kindly." 

Rosa  was  going  to  make  an  angry  reply,  his  first 
sentence  was  so  imperious,  so  rude  ;  but  his  voice 
softened  into  such  tenderness  of  pathos,  that  she  was 
constrained  to  meet  his  glance  which  had  changed 
too  into  imploring  beauty. 

"You  do  both  me  and  Mr.  Lennard  wrong  by 
speaking  of  such  thoughts,"  she  replied  with  gentle 
ness.  "  I  am  sorry  to  believe  that  you  could  have 
so  little  control  over  your  feelings — I  do  not  believe 
it — and  if  you  will  go  now,  and  say  no  more  on  the 
matter,  I  will  forget  that  you  have  ever  spoken  of 
it." 

"  Lennard !"  said  he  with  fierce  bitterness,  "  what 
does  he  know  about  love  ?  He  is  one  too  many  in 
this  world ;  if  it  were  not  for  him  we  could  be  so 
happy — oh,  so  happy  together,  Rosa,  for  I  should 
love  you  so  much  more ;  and  Blanche  and  Frederick 
love  and  will  marry,  and  we  would  be  a  hand  of 


58  FASHIONABLE  DISSIPATION. 

brothers  and  sisters !  But  this  Lennard — this  cold 
Lennard  !  Tell  me  that  you  do  not  love  him,  Rosa, 
that  you  were  mistaken  in  your  own  emotions — that 
you  can  love  me  more — that  you  do  !" 

He  grasped  her  hand  tightly,  but  she  wrested  it 
from  him,  and  arose  to  her  feet  with  a  flushed  brow. 

"  I  am  sorry  that  you  should  be  so  foolish  for 
Blanche's  sake/' 

"  Stay  a  moment  Rosa — is  that  all  1" 

"  All,  Pierre  ;  except  that  I  shall  continue  to 
esteem  you,  despite  of  your  rashness,  that  I  am 
sorry  you  have  spoken  so  hastily,  and  still  feel  just 
as  kindly  to  you.  Let  us  go." 

But  the  tide  which  had  been  rising  for  some  time, 
was  now  at  their  feet,  and  she  could  not  retreat  from 
the  nook  where  they  were  without  wading  in  the 
water,  which  would  be  dangerous  without  assistance, 
as  she  might  be  washed  away.  "  How  careless  we 
have  been  !  Here,  Pierre,  quick,  take  my  hand  before 
the  next  wave  rolls  in." 

But  he  would  not  stir,  he  stood  looking  sullenly  at 
her ;  the  wave  came  up  and  dashed  them  with  spray, 
the  rocks  which  surrounded  them  were  too  perpendic 
ular  to  be  climbed,  while  to  add  to  her  distress  the  air 
grew  dark  with  clouds,  the  wind  rushed  on,  and  dis 
tant  thunder  rolled  below  the  moon. 


FASHIONABLE  DISSIPATION.  59 

Displeased  and  frightened,  Rosa  gathered  her  dress 
in  her  hands,  and  prepared  at  the  risk  of  her  life,  to 
make  her  way  around  the  projecting  cliff,  but  her 
companion  seized  her  .arm  and  held  her  back. 

"  I  would  rather  that  you  should  die  than  marry 
Lennard — as  for  me,  I  do  not  care  about  life,"  he 
said. 

"  Rosa!  Rosa!  Pierre!" 

"  Where  are  you  Rosa  ?  They  cannot  have  gone 
home  !  Ro — sa!" 

Now  if  Rosa  Lee  had  been  what  is  called  a  senti 
mental  girl,  she  might  have  thought  that  the  romance 
of  death  would  have  been  a  recompense  for  yielding 
up  life  at  that  time — but  she  was  not !  therefore, 
when  she  heard  the  voices  of  her  friends  in  different 
accents  of  wonder  and  alarm,  she  set  up  a  shriek  that 
she  herself  was  somewhat  surprised  at,  loud,  long 
and  hearty. 

"  Charles  !  come  quick  !  Charles !  I  am  drowning" 
— which  was  not  at  the  time  precisely  true,  but  likely 
soon  to  be  so.  "  Here — around  this" — rock,  she 
was  going  to  say,  but  Pierre's  hand  was  over  her 
mouth. 

The  next  moment  Lennard  was  by  her  side,  and  a 
slight  struggle  ensued  between  hiih  and  Guyarre- 


60  FASHIONABLE    DISSIPATION. 

Leonard  all  the  while  mistaking  the  object  of  the 
other's  resistance. 

"  No — no  !  Pierre,  it  is  as  much  as  you  can  do  to 
take  care  of  yourself — I  am  strongest,  and  can  carry 
Rosa,"  thus  saying,  and  thinking  it  a  poor  place  for 
argument,  he  snatched  the  young  girl  away  and 
plunged  into  the  tide.  He  was  almost  around  the 
cliff,  when  a  wave  washed  him  off  his  feet,  but  he  was 
a  strong  bold  swimmer — he  held  his  treasure  with  an 
iron  grasp,  kept  his  presence  of  mind — and  the  re 
turning  wave  cast  them  safe  upon  the  shore. 

"  Here  we  are,  thank  Grod !  said  he,  springing  to 
his  feet,  and  lifting  Rosa,  who  was  choked  with  the 
water,  and  for  a  moment  insensible. 

The  moon  shining  out  between  two  sullen  clouds, 
revealed  the  group,  looking  relieved,  but  a  little  pale 
still — Margaret  was  wiping  the  dripping  brine  from 
her  sister's  face  and  hair. 

"But  Pierre  !  oh  !  where  is  Pierre  ?"  cried 
Blanche,  suddenly,  and  she  darted  towards  the  ocean 
as  if  about  to  rush  into  it.  Frederick  held  her  back  ; 
she  trembled  like  a  leaf,  and  struggled  to  get  away. 

"  He  is  drowned — he  must  be  !  he  has  attempted 
to  get  back,  and  been  washed  away." 

"  Let  us  hope  not,"  replied  Lee,  but  his  own  voice 
was  faint — "  there  is  but  one  way  that  we  can  help 


FASHIONABLE    DISSIPATION.  61 

liim  now,  let  us  climb  to  the  top  of  the  cliff,  and  see 
what  can  be  done.  Lennard,  come  with  me.  Stay 
with  Margaret,  Blanche,  the  way  is  too  rude  !"  It 
was  not  too  rude  for  a  sister's  love  to  overcome — 
she  could  not  stay  back,  but  kept  pace  with  them. 
In  a  few  moments  they  were  looking  down  into  the 
recess,  where  they  could  dimly  discern  the  form  of 
Pierre  as  he  sat  upon  a  piece  of  rock,  the  tide  rising 
slowly  around  him,  and  every  break  of  the  surf  wash 
ing  nearly  over  him.  They  called  to  him,  but  he 
made  no  reply  ;  which  increased  their  alarm,  for  they 
supposed  he  must  be  nearly  suffocated  with  the  dash 
of  the  waves,  and  consequently  would  soon  loose  his 
hold. 

"  A  rope — oh,  if  we  had  a  rope  !"  cried  Lennard. 

"  I  will  run  for  one,"  murmured  Blanche,  save 
him,  Frederick — I  depend  upon  you." 

"  I  will,  Blanche,"  was  the  brief  assurance,  as  he 
threw  off  his  coat  and  prepared  to  descend  the  dan 
gerously  steep  cliff. 

"  We  will  not  wait  for  a  rope,"  said  Blanche,  grow 
ing  more  calm  at  seeing  young  Lee's  coolness  and 
determination.  «  Here  is  my  long  shawl;  and  Rosa's — 
and  Margaret's" — for  the  two  sisters  had  now  made 
*;heir  way  to  the  group.  "  Help  me  to  tie  them ; 
6 


62  FASHIONABLE    DISSIPATION. 

here,  you,  Mr.  Lennard  ;  my  fingers  are  all  in  a 
tremble." 

The  long  silken  scarfs  were  knotted  firmly  to 
gether. 

"  I  will  fasten  it  around  him,  and  you  must  drag 
him  up,"  was  Frederick's  order  as  he  began  to  de 
scend  the  rock.  It  was  easier  to  descend,  than  to 
get  up  again,  as  after  clambering  down  a  few  feet 
he  allowed  himself  to  drop. 

"  Pierre  !  are  you  dead  ?"  he  asked,  as  he  shook 
him  by  the  shoulder,  not  expecting,  certainly,  the 
answer  which  he  received.  "  Not  yet,  but  I  intend 
to  be  soon,  so  let  me  alone,  sir,  or  you  will  get  the 
worst  of  it !" 

"  I  shall  not  let  you  alone,  for  Blanche's  sake, 
whatever  your  motive  is  in  behaving  so  madly,"  was 
the  firm  reply,  and  his  preserver  being  unusually  ac 
tive  and  powerful,  grasped  the  slender  southerner  by 
the  waist  and  dragged  him  struggling  beneath  the 
dangling  silken  cord,  which  he  fastened  about  him, 
despite  of  his  resistance,  and  then  shouting-"  Ready," 
lifted  him  to  his  shoulders,  and  continued  to  assist 
the  party  above  as  long  as  the  quarrelsome  boots  of 
the  unthankful  youth  were  within  his  reach.  The 
scarfs  were  soon  lowered  again  for  himself ;  he  tied 


FASHIONABLE    DISSIPATION.  63 

them  about  him  to  assist  his  climbing,  and  in  three 
minutes  was  safe  upon  the  cliff. 

Exhausted  by  his  violent  passions,  faint  and  weak, 
Pierre  lay  upon  the  ground  where  Blanche  had  seated 
herself  to  hold  his  head  and  cover  him  with  kisses. 
Rosa's  dress  was  clinging  tightly  to  her  limbs,  she 
was  shivering  with  cold,  and  her  hair  hung  dishevel 
led  about 'her  face — the  thunder  rolled  nearer — the 
moon  began  to  dim  again. 

The  mingled  joy  and  agony — the  sublimity  and 
absurdity  of  the  scene — the  grandeur  of  the  ap 
proaching  storm — -the  ungraceful  figure  Rosa  made 
in  her  wet  garments — Blanche's  anguish  and  happi 
ness — the  ridiculous  figure  Pierre  made  when  kick 
ing  and  struggling  against  fate — the  terrible,  romantic 
and  preposterous,  was  too  much  for  Frederick  when 
thus  blended  together — his  sense  of  propriety  was 
too  keen  ;  he  threw  himself  upon  the  earth  and  rolled 
over  and  over,  shouting  and  convulsed  with  laughter. 

"  I  believe  that  you  would  laugh  if  you  were  dying, 
Fred,"  spoke  Margaret.  u  Hosa  's  shivering  with 
cold — she  will  have  an  ague-fit  if  we  do  not  get  back 
quickly." 

Large  drops  of  rain  beginning  to  fall,  warned  him 
also  that  it  was  high  time  they  were  hastening  back ; 
he  gave  an  arm  to  his  half-drowned  sister,  Lennard 


64  FASHIONABLE  DISSIPATION. 

took  Pierre  under  his  charge,  who  was  too  much  ex 
hausted  to  make  objection,  and  they  started  at  as 
great  speed  as  was  practicable,  and  just  as  the  shower 
descended  in  torrents  met  the  servants  Mrs.  Green 
wood  had  dispatched  with  shawls  and  umbrellas. 
They  were  wet  enough  to  afford  to  scorn  the  umbrel 
las,  but  the  large  shawls  were  welcome  to  the  young 
ladies,  as  they  would  conceal  the  woful  condition  they 
were  in. 

A  party  in  a  more  pitiable  plight  never  took  refuge 
in  the  most  fashionable  hotel  at  Newport. 


CHAPTER  IV. 

THE  story  that  went  about  Newport  the  next  day, 
was  that  the  beautiful  Rosa  Lee  had  fallen  from  the 
cliff  into  the  ocean,  and  that  Charles  Lennard  and 
Pierre  Guyarre  had  risked  their  lives  to  save  her — 
that  there  was  a  terrible  thunder-storm  at  the  time, 
and  everybody  concerned  got  very  wet  and  was  very 
much  frightened.  Of  course  they  were  more  than 
ever  the  observed  of  all  observers. 

But  Newport  had  lost  its  charms  for  our  party. 

They  could  have  laughed  the  next  morning  as 
merrily  as  the  most  malicious,  and  have  enjoyed  the 
adventure  after  the  danger  was  over,  had  not  the 
unhappy  state  of  Pierre's  mind  been  revealed  to 
them,  and  they  were  obliged  to  feel  that  it  was  still 
tragic  in  the  intensest  degree  to  him. 

Poor  fellow !  he  was  obliged  to  bear  the  congratu 
lations  of  the  ladies  upon  his  bravery — to  be  the 
heroic  object  of  their  gentle  solicitudes — to  hear  his 
health  tenderly  enquired  after,  and  be  begged  to  re- 
6*  65 


66  FASHIONABLE    DISSIPATION. 

late  the  minute  particulars  of  the  fearful  scene,  until 
his  self-accusing  spirit  could  bear  it  no  longer,  and 
he  shut  himself  up  in  his  room. 

"  Oh,  Margaret,  I  am  in  such  trouble,  and  I  've 
no  one  to  tell  it  to  but  you,"  said  Blanche,  two  days 
after  the  above  incidents,  as  she  came  into  Miss 
Lee's  bed-room  and  set  down  upon  a  trunk,  looking 
pale  and  dejected. 

"  What  is  it,  Blanche  ?  you  cannot  have  any  seri 
ous  trouble,"  and  Maggie  forgot  that  she  was  dres 
sing  for  dinner,  as  she  threw  the  beautiful  dress  she 
had  selected,  upon  the  bed,  and  cast  herself,  girl- 
fashion,  upon  the  carpet  at  her  friend's  feet,  and 
kissed  the  hands  dropping  so  languidly  upon  her 
knee.  "  But  I  have,  my  dear  Miss  Lee,  and  Mrs. 
Greenwood,  though  she  is  my  aunt,  is  so  gay  and  so 
careless,  that  I  cannot  endure  to  go  to  her  for  sym 
pathy  in  so  delicate  a  matter.  Now — to  make  a  be 
ginning  of  my  griefs — what  am  I  to  do  ?  After 
Pierre's  unhappy  behaviour  of  night-before-last, 
which  Rosa  of  course  has  told  you  of,  it  is  foolish  to 
think  that  we  can  any  longer  remain  together,  all  of 
us,  at  Newport.  Mrs.  Greenwood  will  not  be  willing 
to  give  up  her  summer  pleasure  for  us,  and  besides, 

if  we  should  return  with  her  to  C ,  we  will  be  in 

Bosa's  neighborhood,  and  my  brother  will  be  miser- 


FASHIONABLE    DISSIPATION.  67 

able.  It  will  be  dangerous  for  us  to  return  to  the 
South  now,  for  it  is  very  sickly  there.  If  we  flee  to 
some  other  fashionable  resort,  my  poor  Pierre  will  be 
exposed  to  all  the  temptations^  which  he  has  so  little 
strength  to  resist,  and  which  his  disappointment  will 
cause  him  to  indulge  in  with  reckless  boldness.  I 
know  him  so  well.  Oh,  Maggie,  I  expect  that  you 
despise  him — but  you  would  not  if  you  saw  his  better 
qualities.  He  is  affectionate  and  yielding  as  a  child, 
and  as  pure-hearted,  his  tastes  are  only  too  delicately 
fastidious,  his  nature  too  refined ;  but  he  has  not 
physical  nor  moral  strength  to  resist  the  tempests  of 
feeling  and  passion  which  sometimes  shake  him — and 
then,  because  his  bodily  endurance  is  so  soon  mas 
tered  by  his  emotions,  he  flies  to  the  wine-cup  to 
strengthen  himself."  Tears  were  running  down 
Blanche's  cheeks,  but  even  grief  appeared  graceful 
and  dignified  in  her. 

"  Yes,  I  do  know  him,  and  respect  him,  and  love 
him,"  replied  Margaret  earnestly.  "  No  one  can 
help  admiring  and  loving  your  brother,  Blanche,  des 
pite  of  the  unpleasant  fits  of  temper  to  which  he 
gives  way.  There  is  no  member  of  this  party,  ex 
cept  himself,  who  does  not  forgive  him,  and  regard 
him  as  tenderly  as  ever.  He  is  so  delicate,  so  sickly, 
that  we  humor  him  as  we  would  »  petted  child." 


68  FASHIONABLE    DISSIPATION. 

Miss  Guyarre  was  somewhat  comforted  at  this, 
brushing  away  her  tears  as  she  enquired — 

"  But  what  is  to  be  done  in  this  deplorable  state 
of  affairs  ?  If  he  had  only  have  fallen  in  love  with 
you,  Maggie  dear,  how  happy  I  should  be,  and  all  of 
us!" 

"  Would  we  ?"  asked  Margaret,  laughing  mysteri 
ously.  "  You  must  not  be  sure  of  that ;  I  may  not 
be  as  independent  as  I  seem — and  you  know  Pope 
says  "  Whatever  is,  is  right !"  So  since  your  brother 
has  made  himself  ill  we  must  submit,  but  try  to  study 
what  medicine  will  be  best  for  him.  I  have  already 
seen  a  part  of  the  remedy  for  this  great  difficulty,  if 
we  can  only  get  the  consent  of  those  most  interested. 
Mrs.  Greenwood,  Rosa,  Frederick,  and  Mr.  Lennard, 
can  go  on  to  Saratoga,  as  proposed — you  and  Pierre, 
and  I,  can  go  home  to  papa's,  and  don't  think  that 
it  will  be  any  disappointment  to  me — I  am  already 
tired  of  watering-place  happiness,  and  father  and 
Lily  will  be  so  pleased  to  have  us  back  again.  If 
two  such  women  as  you  and  I,  Blanche,  cannot  make 
a  man  happy,  when  we  are  trying  our  best,  he  de 
serves  to  be  miserable,  and  if  Pierre  is  not  cured,  or 
at  least  rendered  comfortably  convalescent,  when  we 
get  him  into  the  cool,  charming,  quiet  country,  then  I 
shall  think  he  is  an  ungrateful,  wilful  boy." 


FASHIONABLE    DISSIPATION.  69 

«I,  at  least  shall  not  be  ungrateful,"  replied 
Blanche,  fast  growing  cheerful,  under  her  com 
panion's  influence. 

The  young  girls  sat  talking  so  long,  that  they 
were  not  ready  for  the  grand  dinner,  and  had  to  dine 
in  their  room.  Rosa,  whose  dinner-toilet  Mrs.  Green 
wood  had  been  superintending,  and  who  had  been  at 
the  table  looking  unusually  pretty  in  a  pale-green 
tissue  silk  and  rose-buds  in  her  hair,  came  back  to 
them  while  they  were  still  discussing  their  plans  along 
with  the  cold  chicken,  biscuits,  and  creams  which  had 
been  sent  up  to  them.  She  was  taken  into  their  con 
fidence,  and  of  course  had  nothing  on  her  own  part 
to  object,  except  to  the  loss  of  their  society. 

"  You  will  have  Charlie,"  said  Margaret. 

"  And  you  will  find  it  endurable  at  Saratoga,  even 
without  us,  if  your  ladyship  continues  to  be  the  cen 
tre  of  so  obsequious  and  attentive  a  circle,  that  you 
have  not  time  in  which  to  accept  all  the  invitations  to 
walk  and  ride,  and  sing,  nor  hands  to  carry  the 
boquets  which  are  left  at  your  door — nor  ears  to 
listen  to  the  serenades  by  which  you  are  nightly 
disturbed,"  said  Blanche  playfully. 

"  Really  !  Miss  Gruyarre,  your  want  of  self-esteem 
is  remarkable — is  that  a  pretty  way  you  have  of 


70  FASHIONABLE   DISSIPATION. 

praising  yourself,  by  laying  your  conquests  at  my 
door?" 

"  You  are  both  altogether  too  modest,"  interrupted 
Margaret ;  "  here  Rosa  !  please  to  fasten  this  clasp 
for  me,  and  then  we  will  go  and  seek  the  consent  of 
the  rest  of  our  friends." 

It  was  a  disappointment  to  all  to  be  obliged  to 
separate.  Mrs.  Greenwood  was  reluctant  to  resign 
two  of  her  youthful  beauties,  especially  her  neice, 
but  confessed  that  it  was  best,  Frederick  was  for  the 
moment  dumb  with  consternation,  at  the  thought  of 
being  separated  so  soon  from  Miss  Guyarre.  But 

when  he  reflected  that  he  should  meet  her  at  C 

upon  his  return  there,  and  that  it  might  be  the  means 
in  the  future  of  having  more  of  her  society,  he  ceased 
fuming  and  fretting,  and  gave  an  ungraceful  consent. 
Lennard's  happiness  not  being  seriously  interfered 
with,  he  had  nothing  to  do  but  to  approve.  As  for 
Pierre,  he  was  docile  as  a  child,  and  seemed  almost 
glad  of  the  prospect  of  quiet. 

There  was  a  loud  hum  of  regret  among  the  visitors 
generally,  when  it  became  known  that  Mrs.  Green 
wood's  party  were  to  leave  the  next  day.  A  number 
of  gentlemen  announced  their  intention  of  following 
her  immediately  to  Saratoga,  billets,  boquets,  and 
beaux  besieged  their  attention  —  and  that  night  a 


FASHIONABLE    DISSIPATION.  71 

serenade,  the  most  exquisite  and  costly,  arose  beneath 
their  windows. 

The  worst  of  it  was,  that  the  young  gentlemen 
had  so  many  invitations  to  supper,  after  the  dancing 
for  the  evening  was  over,  the  men  with  whom  they 
had  become  intimate  were  so  courteous,  that  they 
did  not  escape  from  the  contagion  of  fashionable 
dissipation  as  entirely  as  they  desired. 

Frederick,  himself  in  a  condition  to  mistake  a  hall 
pillar  for  a  Hebe,  assisted  Pierre  to  his  room — and 
Lennard — but  as  Rosa  never  found  him  out,  we  will 
not  tell  of  him. 

The  next  afternoon  they  were  gone  from  Newport. 
When  they  arrived  at  that  stage  of  their  journey  at 
which  they  were  to  separate,  there  was  quite  a  mel 
ancholy  feeling.  Frederick,  who,  although  he  knew 
that  Miss  Guyarre  must  be  aware  of  his  love,  had 
not  yet  found  courage  to  confess  it,  audacious  as  he 
was  in  all  other  matters,  ventured  to  press  her  hand, 
and  to  express  all  that  he  could  in  those  fine  eyes  of 
his.  Rose  was  saddened  for  several  hours  by  the 
thought  of  the  despairing  gaze  Pierre  had  fixed  upon 
her  at  parting  ;  but  her  nature  was  too  buoyant,  and 
her  own  circumstances  too  pleasant  to  allow  a  long 
indulgence  even  in  regret, 

"  What  a  happy  surprise  we  shall  give  them  at 


72  FASHIONABLE    DISSIPATION. 

home,"  said  Margaret  to  Pierre,  as  the  cars  which 
conveyed  them  stopped  at  the  village  of  C . 

He  could  not  hut  return  her  hright  smile,  and  sprang 
out  to  attend  to  the  haggage,  with  a  more  interested 
expression  than  he  had  worn  since  they  parted  from 
their  friends. 

"  I'm  afraid  your  brother  will  get  crushed  amid 
that  pile  of  trunks."  continued  Miss  Lee  laughing, 
as  she  looked  out  of  the  station-house  window.  "  I 
beg  your  pardon,  Blanche,  but  it  is  a  wonder  to  me 
why  such  an  indolent,  fastidious  man  as  he,  does  not 
keep  a  servant  to  do  such  things  for  him." 

"  We  certainly  were  never  without  before,  but 
Aunt  Greenwood  begged  us  not  to  bring  any  of  our 
colored  servants  to  the  north,  and  Pierre  can't  find  a 
valet  here  that  he  will  have  about  him.  My  Coral 
cried  pitifully  when  I  came  away  and  left  her  I  caa 
get  along  better  than  Pierre,  tho-ugh,  for  Mrs.  Green 
wood's  maid  is  almost  as  good  as  Coral." 

"  I  shall  have  to  be  your  maid  at  Mapel-Grove," 
said  Maggie,  Rose  and  I  have  always  delighted  to 
dress  each  other :  and  Papa,  who  you  have  already 
observed  probably,  has  some  idea  of  everybody's  hav 
ing  been  born  to  do  at  least  some  small  thing  that 
was  useful,  has  insisted  upon  our  keeping  our  own 


FASHIONABLE   DISSIPATION.  73 

room  and  toilet  in  order.      It  is  one  of  our  recre 
ations — we  like  it." 

"  I  suppose  so — but  at  the  south,  we  are  so  languid 
— every  exertion  is  avoided.  I  feel  like  another 
creature  here,  except  upon  your  intolerably  warm 


"  And  you  are  almost  getting  roses  in  your  cheeks, 
my  southern  lily !  I  shall  be  sorry  for  that !  your 
pearly  complexion,  so  tintless  and  clear,  is  very 
beautiful  to  us." 

Their  companion,  having  seen  the  baggage  safely 
deposited  in  the  depot,  until  called  for,  now  came  for 
them,  and  they  concluded  to  walk  out  to  the  Grove, 
as  the  afternoon  was  cool,  but  as  they  passed  along 
Main  street,  bowing  to  their  acquaintances,  and  sha 
king  hands  with  their  friends,  they  heard  a  glad 
shout  of  "Margaret!  Margaret!"  And  there  was 
Lily  riding  in  state  in  the  new  carriage,  and  Jupe 
showing  his  white  teeth  on  the  box.  He  drove  up 
to  the  side  walk  for  them  to  get  in. 

cc  What  are  you  doing,  Lily,  riding  about  alone  ?" 
asked  her  sister,  when  the  child  got  breath  again, 
after  the  kisses  in  which  they  had  half  smothered 
her. 

"  Why,  Flora  Smith  came  back  from  schoo>  yester 
day — it  is  vacation  now — and  I  've  been  tfl  soil  on 


74  FASHIONABLE    DISSIPATION. 

her.  I  asked  Jupe  to  take  the  same  horses,  and 
make  things  look  as  nice  as  he  did  for  you,  when  you 
went  to  call  on  Miss  Guyarre." 

"  Hi !"  chuckled  ebony,  "  hadn't  nothing  else  to 
do  to-day  but  to  'company  Miss  Lily  where  she 
choose.  Had  to  'bey  orders,  Miss  Margaret,  though 
the  blacks  were  rather  wild  with  running  in  the 
meadow  for  a  week — had  to  'bey  young  missus" — and 
he  looked  round  affectionately  at  the  little  seven- 
years-old  lady  he  had  been  conveying  about  C— - 
in  all  the  grandeur  she  had  desired. 

They  laughed  with  Jupe  at  the  aspirations  which 
had  arisen  in  Miss  Lily's  mind  upon  finding  herself 
the  mistress  at  Maple  Grove  ;  she  blushed,  and  would 
have  been  somewhat  disconcerted,  but  they  were 
turning  up  the  avenue,  and  a  glimpse  of  Mr.  Lee 
walking  about  rather  lonesomely  under  the  trees,  di 
verted  her  thoughts  into  eagerness  to  be  the  first  to 
announce  the  return. 

"  Guess  who  I  've  brought  back  with  me,  papa  !" 
she  shouted. 

He  did  not  have  to  exert  his  guessing  faculties 
much,  as  the  carriage  came  in  full  sight  just  as  he 
looked  up. 

He  was  satisfied  to  hear  that  they   were  tired  of 


FASHIONABLE    DISSIPATION.  75 

watering-places,  and  glad  enough  to  get  them  back, 
not  to  find  any  fault  with  their  hrief  stay. 

If  there  was  any  purer  water  in  the  United  States 
than  in  the  spring  down  by  the  oak-tree,  any  better 

place  to  bathe,  than  in  C lake,  any  fresher  air 

or  cooler  shade,  or  pleasanter  verandahs  than  at 
Maple  Grove,  then  there  would  be  some  excuse  for 
their  undergoing  the  dust  and  heat  of  travelling,  and 
the  misery  of  crowded  hotels,  he  said. 

"  But  the  ocean,  father,  that  was  better  than 

C lake — that  was  grand  !  and  the  company  was 

'amusing'  if  not  'instructive,''  urged  Maggie. 
"  Nevertheless,  I  am  glad  to  be  at  home,  and  we  are 
dusty,  and  fatigued,  and  hungry,  too ;  so  Lily  will 
order  us  a  good  tea,  while  we  go  to  our  rooms." 

The  atmosphere  of  freshness  and  peace  about  Maple 
Grove  was  to  Pierre  Guyarre's  feverish  mind  what  it 
was  to  his  invalid  body,  soothing  and  strengthening. 
Margaret  so  gentle,  so  kind,  Blanche  so  devoted, 
seemed  to  remove  every  thorn  from  his  pathway  and 
to  keep  him  treading  upon  roses.  He  was  not  in 
sensible  to  the  goodness  of  these  fair  creatures  ;  he 
grew  again  as  amiable  as  he  was  interesting;  and 
the  music  of  his  voice  and  his  guitar  made  the  Grove 
more  melodious  than  a  chorus  of  nightingales  would 
have  done.  He  had  now  but  one  jealousy,  and  that 


76  FASHIONABLE   DISSIPATION. 

was  of  the  petting  which  his  sister  bestowed  upon 
Lily — he  wanted  to  do  all  that  himself.  It  may  be 
that  in  the  child's  artless  tones,  her  golden  curls  and 
dimpled  cheeks  he  saw  a  miniature  of  Rosa  —  the 
sisters  resembled  each  other  strongly  —  and  he 
would  play  for  her  for  hours  unweariedly,  would  walk 
with  her  in  the  garden,  tell  her  about  the  gorgeous 
birds  and  brilliant  flowers  of  the  tropics,  and  the  gro 
tesque  manners  of  the  little  negro  children,  the  beau 
tiful  shells  he  had  gathered  upon  shining  Southern 
sands — the  opera  houses  of  the  Cuban  ladies,  and 
how  they  rode  about  in  strange  carriages  after  sunset, 
with  their  heads  decked  with  flowers  as  she  had  seen 
Blanche's — about  their  delicious  evenings,  when 
everybody  was  happy,  until  he  completely  fascinated 
the  heart  and  imagination  of  the  little  girl.  She 
would  leave  all  other  occupations  and  run  to  his 
side  if  he  spoke  to  her,  and  so  entranced  was  she  by 
fairy  visions  of  that  wonderful  Southern  land,  that 
she  would  have  bid  good-bye  to  home  if  he  asked 
her  to  go  with  them  when  they  returned. 

"  You  have  bewitched  Lily/'  Margaret  used  to  say, 
"  the  Arabian  Nights  would  not  be  half  so  entertain 
ing  to  her  as  your  stories.  I  am  afraid  that  Maple 
Grove,  which  she  has  always  thought  so  lovely,  will 
seem  dull  to  her  after  you  are  gone." 


FASHIONABLE    DISSIPATION.  77 

They  had  not  been  at  home  two  weeks,  before  they 
were  astonished  one  evening  upon  sitting  down  to 
tea,  to  find  Frederick  peering  in  at  the  door. 
Whether  he  or  Blanche  blushed  the  most  violently, 
could  not  be  affirmed. — "  Saratoga  was  dull,"  he 
said,  "  miserably  stupid !  Nobody  there  worth 
speaking  to — so  he  had  come  where  he  could  please 
himself  better." 

It  was  unusual  for  a  man  of  his  age,  and  enjoying 
his  advantages,  to  find  Saratoga  as  unendurable  ;  but 
nobody  questioned  his  veracity,  nor  troubled  him 
with  puzzling  questions. — Rosa  was  not  there  to  keep 
up  a  mimic  war  with  him,  and  the  others  were  dis 
posed  to  let  him  keep  the  truth  to  himself  until  he 
saw  fit  to  acknowledge  it. 

That  he  was  brought  to  the  confessional  that  very 
evening  of  his  return,  was  owing  to  his  temerity  in 
proposing  to  go  with  Blanche  down  to  the  spring 
under  the  oak,  to  get  some  very  cold  water  to  make 
lemonade. 

Margaret  had  crushed  the  lemons  and  sugar  with 
Pierre's  aid,  who  had  given  her  several  receipes  for 
making  cooling  drinks  with  fresh  fruit,  as  he  made 
them  at  the  South  ;  she  had  laughingly  refused  to 
add  any  wine  to  the  lemons.  They  had  wondered 
why  the  pitcher  of  spring-water  did  not  make  its 


78  FASHIONABLE    DISSIPATION. 

appearance  ;  had  sustained  quite  a  spirited  discussion 
about  Cuba ;  and  wondered  over  again  what  had 
become  of  that  absent  pair,  when  the  delinquents 
arrived. 

In  answer  to  Pierre's  demand  of  the  reason  of 
their  long  delay,  Frederick  as  he  sat  the  pitcher 
down,  averred  "  That  there  was  a  legend  connected 
with  the  spring,  and  that  any  one  who  went  there  by 
starlight,  and  under  the  right  influences,  could  call 
a  witch  up  out  of  the  water,  who  would  tell  him  of 
his  future  fortunes." 

"  The  fairy  told  you  a  happy  story,  I  know,"  said 
Margaret,  looking  lovingly  into  her  brother's  glow 
ing  face  ;  and  then  stealing  around  to  his  side,  she 
pressed  his  hand,  for  Blanche's  face,  as  she  stood  by 
the  lamp,  had  revealed  to  her  the  secret  of  the 
water-spirit's  prophecy.  Blanche  had  not  spoken 
since  she  came  in,  but  stood  gravely  binding  some 
wild-grass  and  violets  together,  allowing  her  com 
panion  to  say  what  he  willed  about  their  absence. 

Let  it  happen  as  many  thousand  of  times  as  it  has 
and  must,  in  the  histories  of  the  world,  there  is  al 
ways  a  poetical  and  peculiar  interest,  even  to  obser 
vers,  hovering  about  a  young  maiden  who  has  just 
acknowledged,  for  the  first  time,  the  overwhelming 
happiness  of  loving  and  being  beloved.  Old  and 


FASHIONABLE    DISSIPATION.  79 

young,  and  gentle  and  rude,  will  turn  with  a  softened 
thought  to  regard  her.  And  Blanche,  as  she  stood 
there  with  eyes  bent  upon  her  violets,  had  never 
been  so  beautiful  before.  Something  joyous,  elate, 
and  yet  solemn,  shone  from  her  form  ;  a  faint  flush 
troubled  the  repose  of  her  cheeks,  and  a  tender  glow 
upon  her  lips  almost  breathed  of  the  consent' they 
had  given.  Margaret's  gaze  lingered  affectionately 
upon  her,  but  she  did  not  meet  those  drooping  eyes 
until  she  brought  her  a  glass  of  lemonade  ;  and  then 
there  was  a  smile,  a  blush,  a  tear,  and  all  that ;  while 
Frederick,  in  a  sudden  outbreak  of  happiness,  seized 
upon  the  helpless  Lily,  who  ought  to  have  been 
a-bed ;  and  after  whirling  her  around  like  a  top,  tos 
sed  her  up,  and  left  her  dizzy  and  confused  upon 
Pierre's  shoulders,  whereby  her  dignity  was  some 
what  wounded,  and  she  slid  back  to  the  floor  as 
quickly  as  possible. 

"  If  I  ever  grow  so  large  that  you  cannot  treat  me 
so,  I  shall  be  glad,"  she  said,  poutingly. 

"  Well,  you  never  will,  unless  you  go  to  bed  earli 
er,"  was  the  sage  reply.  «  So,  off  to  bed,  little 
one  !"  and  that  was  all  the  consolation  she  got  for 
his  ill-treatment. 

The  next  thing  they  heard  was  Towser  growling 
on  the  piazza ;  for  when  Fred  was  particularly  happy, 


80  FASHIONABLE    DISSIPATION. 

inferior  creatures  were  wise  to  keep  out  of  sight, 
lie  had  such  a  thoughtless  way  of  bestowing  his  exu 
berant  spririts  upon  them ;  and  although  his  hand 
some,  glowing  face  never  failed  to  diffuse  pleasure 
wherever  it  appeared,  yet  little  children,  dogs,  and 
nervous  people  confessed  to  a  feeling  of  timidity  in 
his  presence. 

Pierre's  serenity  was  very  much  disturbed  by 
Frederick's  advent.  He  demanded  the  entire  devo 
tion  of  some  heart  to  his  happiness,  or  there  was 
restlessness  and  repining  ;  and  now,  that  more  than 
ever  he  felt  the  want  of  some  satisfying  love,  his  sis 
ter,  who  had  been  to  him  almost  like  half  of  his  own 
soul,  had  partially  deserted  him  for  a  newer  affection. 
He  did  not  wish  it  to  be  otherwise — when  she  came  to 
his  side,  he  sent  her  back  to  her  lover's,  but  it  forced 
upon  him  a  feeling  of  loneliness  that  was  to  him  un 
endurable.  He  had  no  relatives,  no  mother,  the 
woman  he  loved  was  soon  to  be  married  to  another— 
and  brooding  upon  these  things,  instead  of  making 
himself  happy  with  the  thousand  other  pleasant 
circumstances  which  surrounded  him,  he  grew  moody, 
and  took  almost  entirely  to  his  guitar  for  solace  and 
company.  He  had  a  fancy  for  pleasing  Lily,  but 
aside  from  that,  he  did  not  exert  himself  to  be  enter 
taining  to  anybody. 


FASHIONABLE    DISSIPATION.  81 

He  taught  her  to  play  upon  his  guitar — to  speak 
some  musical  Spanish  phrases  ;  and  what  pleased  her 
most  of  all,  they  took  long  rides  on  horseback  all 
over  the  country. 

Enthralled  in  "  Love's  young  dream,"  Blanche  for 
a  while  shut  out  the  clouds  in  the  sky  of  the  future, 
and  walked  contented  through  the  fairy  land  of  the 
present.  Why  should  she  not  be  happy  ?  There 
was  nothing  but  the  thought  of  her  brother's  unplea 
sant  position  to  prevent  her  being  too  supremely  hap 
py.  She  kept  hoping  that  "  something  would  happen" 
to  divert  his  mind  from  Rosa,  or  in  some  way  to 
change  the  circumstances.  And  something  did  hap 
pen,  but  not  in  the  way  she  hoped  for. 

It  was  well  known  to  all  in  the  family,  that  Rosa 
and  Lennard  were  to  be  married  somewhere  about 
the  next  Christmas,  and  Frederick  could  not  endure 
the  thought  of  allowing  Miss  Guyarre  to  go  back  to 
the  south  before  he  had  a  right  to  accompany  her. 
He  wanted  her  to  consent  to  a  double  wedding,  and 
then  they  could  all  go  south  together,  if  her  affairs 
at  Magnolia  Grove  needed  her  presence  so  soon.  But 
against  all  such  plans  rose  up  the  image  of  her  broth 
er,  and  she  resolutely  refused  to  leave  him  in  such 
embarrassing  loneliness.  She  w*ould  go  home  with 
her  brother  as  soon  as  the  weather  became  cooler, 


82  FASHIONABLE    DISSIPATION. 

and  she  hoped  that  a  winter  on  his  plantations,  sur 
rounded  by  different  influences,  would  make  him 
forget  his  unhappy  love  ;  but,  if  he  did  not,  she 
should  never  forsake  him,  until  he  too  had  found  a 
friend  that  would  supply  the  place  of  all  others. 

Because  he  had  to  acknowledge  very  much  against 
his  inclination  that  this  was  a  sisterly  and  wise  con 
clusion,  Frederick  was  frequently  in  an  ill  humor, 
for  which  his  poor  horse  in  many  a  fast  and  furious 
ride  had  to  suffer.  Unfortunate  man  !  It  was  pro 
voking,  without  doubt — and  yet,  though  Pierre  with 
his  waywardness,  and  melancholy,  and  fits  of  temper, 
stood  so  much  in  other  people's  way,  no  one  seemed 
to  feel  any  resentment  against  him.  When  his 
brother-in-law  elect  was  ready  to  frighten  Jupiter 
out  of  his  five  senses,  to  send  Lily  suddenly  to  Miss 
Guyarre  for  protection,  to  drive  his  horses  to  death, 
break  the  carriage  and  endanger  his  own  neck — when 
Towser  sneaked  out  of  the  way — when  Bridget  de 
clared  with  lifted  hands  that "  She  never  seen  such  a 
harum-scarum  young  man  before" — he  was  as  gentle 
as  a  Count  to  Pierre,  and  never  wounded  him  by  a 
hint  of  the  reason  of  his  half-happy  desperation. 
There  was  such  a  gentleness,  such  an  affectionate 
manner  and  poetic  delicacy  about  the  young  South 
erner  that  nobody  wanted  to  quarrel  with  him. 


FASHIONABLE    DISSIPATION.  83 

In  the  meantime,  as  the  weeks  flew  by  and  Sep 
tember  began  to  ripen  the  peaches  and  scatter  the 
flowers,  the  people  at  Maple  Grove  began  to  expect 
the  return  of  the  party  from  Saratoga. 


CHAPTER  V. 

THEY  were  looking  for  Rosa  at  Maple  grove.  Her 
last  letter  had  assured  them  that  Mrs.  Greenwood 
was  at  last  wearied  with  Saratoga,  and  they  were 
coming  home  on  Wednesday.  Thinking  that  they 
would  probably  arrive  in  the  afternoon  train,  Jupiter 
was  sent  with  the  carriage,  and  directions  given  to 
bring  Mrs.  Greenwood  and  Lennard  to  tea. 

The  careful  Margaret,  who  prided  herself  upon 
her  house-wifely  accomplishments,  went  out  herself 
to  prepare  some  dainty  dish  for  the  table,  while  Lily, 
in  the  excitement  of  the  occasion,  danced  in  and  out 
like  a  humming  bird,  darting  down  the  avenue,  to 
look  for  the  first  toss  of  the  horses'  heads  as  they 
came  up  the  little  rise  in  the  wood,  twining  around 
the  pillars  of  the  portico,  blooming  as  their  roses, 
and  bursting  back  into  the  hall  again  to  ask  Pierre 
if — "He  didn't  wish  they  would  come?"  Nobody 
else  felt  inclined  to  ask  him  the  question,  but  allow 
ed  him  to  sit  silently  upon  the  stair,  with  his  book. 

84 


FASHIONABLE    DISSIPATION.  85 

Blanche  fancied  that  he  must  be  annoyed  by  the  ear 
nest  little  interrogator  :  so  she  called  her  away,  and 
they  went  together  to  a  shady  seat  under  a  maple 
tree  and  sat  quietly  waiting. 

"  There  !  there  !  I  see  them — there  's  the  car 
riage  !"  cried  Lily,  at  last,  jumping  down  from  the 
seat  and  running  down  the  path. 

Pierre  turned  deadly  pale  as  he  held  his  face  down 
over  his  book,  and  Margaret,  passing  by,  did  not  dare 
to  address  him.  The  hurry  and  joy,  though,  was  all 
lost  j  Jupiter  turned  up  towards  the  mansion  with  a 
less  majestic  sweep  than  usual,  and  they  soon  per 
ceived  that  the  carriage  was  empty. 

"  Well,  they  will  come  in  the  ten  o'clock  train  to 
night,  I  suppose,'"'  said  Mr.  Lee,  with  a  little  sigh  of 
disappointment. 

"  Father  has  a  yearning  after  the  bright  face  of 
his  Rosa,"  said  Margaret,  without  the  least  bit  of 
jealousy,  as  she  turned  towards  him  affectionately, 
at  the  sound  of  that  sigh. 

"  The  Rose  is  no  fairer  flower  than  this,"  he  said, 
kissing  her,  "  but  it  is  such  a  wild,  mild  Rose  that  it 
has  a  singular  charm." 

"  Well  done  !"  said  Fred,  with  his  saucy  laugh, 
"  you  are  growing  poetical,  father  ;  and  faith,  Rosa 
affects  a  good  many  people  in  that  way !  As  they 


86  FASHIONABLE    DISSIPATION. 

hav  n't  arrived  though,  you  are  safe  in  concluding 
that  the  ten  o'clock  train  will  bring  them.  What  do 
you  say,  all,  to  a  delightful  walk  to  the  station-house 
to  meet  them  ;  they  will  feel  flattered  at  the  wel 
come,  and  we  will  have  a  glorious  walk  besides." 

Everybody  consented  except  Lily,  who,  not  being 
included  in  the  project,  had  nothing  to  do  but  sub 
mit  to  her  disappointment,  and  win  Maggie's  consent 
to  sit  up  until  they  returned. 

"  In  the  meantime,"  said  our  house-keeper,  "  we 
will  eat  the  muffins,  which  promised  to  be  delicious, 
and  try  to  do  them  as  much  justice  as  though  a  part 
of  them  had  fallen  into  the  mouths  for  which  they 
were  intended." 

They  went  in  to  tea ;  where  Lily,  who  sat  next  to 
Pierre,  took  away  what  little  appetite  the  circum 
stances  had  left  him,  by  chatting  confidentially  about 
the  stories  Rosa  would  tell  her  of  Saratoga,  and 
wondering  if  they  would  be  as  nice  as  those  he  had 
told  her  of  Cuba,  winding  up  with — 

"  How  fine  it  would  be  if  he  would  ask  Rosa  to 
go  along  with  them,  when  he  took  her  there,  as  he 
had  promised.  What  times  they  would  have !  such 
times !" 

The  night  was  cool  and  starry  when  the  young 
people  started  for  the  village,  leaving  Mr.  Lee  and 


FASHIONABLE   DISSIPATION.  87 

Lily  to  wait  for  their  return.  As  they  did  not  care 
about  waiting  long  at  the  station-house,  and  had  an 
hour  in  which  to  walk  half  a  mile,  they  lingered  by 
the  way,  attracted  here  and  there  by  every  wayward 
fancy. 

"  There  are  clouds  coming  up  in  the  west,"  said 
Margaret . 

"  To-morrow  will  not  be  as  pleasant  as  to-day," 
remarked  Blanche. 

They  had  ten  minutes  to  wait  when  they  arrived  at 
the  depot,  and  they  jested  them  away  as  if  they 
were  not  the  last  happy  ten  minutes  they  should  see 
in  a  long  time. 

"  How  I  love  the  iron-horse,"  said  Blanche,  in  a 
dreamy  tone,  as  they  stood  upon  the  platform  of  the 
station-house  and  looked  up  and  down  the  track 
where  it  was  faintly  illuminated  by  the  lantern  of  the 
switch-tender.  "  He  is  so  strong,  so  swift,  so  tireless, 
that  there  is  something  almost  sublime  in  him — he 
seems,  at  the  moment  when  he  sweeps  by,  superior  to 
his  creator  man,  and  one  shrinks  at  the  thought  of 
his  weakness  and  insignificance.  Hark  !  I  hear  him 
now,  miles  away,  his  quick  breath  echoed  by  the 
hills." 

They  listened,  and  heard  the  first  sounds  of  his 
panting  breast,  and  the  distant  rattle  of  the  train  he 


88  FASHIONABLE  DISSIPATION. 

dragged,  upon  the  cool  and  starry  night ;  and  their 
hearts  gave  an  anticipating  bound  as  if  they  already 
felt  the  clasp  of  their  friends'  hands  ;  the  next  mo 
ment  a  shrill  scream  from  the  approaching  engine 
startled  into  life  the  sleepy  hangers-on  who  had  been 
waiting  at  the  depot,  the  bell  rang,  a  crowd  gathered 
upon  the  platform — the  great  fiery  eye  of  the  loco 
motive  flashed  out  of  the  far  off  shadows,  lighting 
up  his  path  with  disdainful  brightness,  while  he  came 
hotly  on — the  ground  groaned  beneath  his  tread — 
with  clamor,  speed  and  impatience  the  train  snorted 
up  and  paused.  Our  friends  leaned  eagerly  forward 
to  look — there  was — yes,  there  was  Lennard  stepping 
out  of  the  third  passenger  car — Mrs.  Greenwood — 
Rosa.  Rosa  turned  to  step  back  into  the  car  for  her 
shawl  which  she  had  left  upon  her  seat. 

"  My  God !"  exclaimed  Frederick,  shrinking  back, 
then  springing  forward,  he  shouted  "  Rosa  !" 

What  was  the  matter  ?  he  had  caught  the  flashing 
eye  of  a  second  fiery  monster  rushing  furiously  along 
over  the  path  of  the  first — or,  right  on  towards  the 
doomed  car,  and  Rosa  was  in  it,  and  Lennard,  they  did 
£ot  see  nor  hear — there  was  no  time — it  was  too  late  ! 
There  was  a  crash,  an  appalling  tumult,  groans, 
shouting,  confusion  and  horror. 

We  are  almost   ashamed  to   record   so   small  an 


FASHIONABLE    DISSIPATION.  89 

accident,  by  which  there  was  but  three  persons 
killed  instantly,  and  eleven  more  or  less  maimed  and 
injured.  Had  we  not  hoped  that  the  youth  and  gay- 
ety,  beauty  and  witchery  of  Rosa  Lee  had  made  her 
many  friends,  we  would  not  trouble  you  with  so  small 
a  thing  as  her  being  dragged  forth  from  that  frightful 
chaos  a  crushed  and  senseless  human  form,  in  which 
the  breath  of  life  might  linger  agonizingly  a  few 
hours  more. 

She  was  borne  home  during  the  period  of  her  insen 
sibility,  and  after  hours  of  deathly  suspense,  it  was 
declared  by  her  physicians  that  she  might  linger 
weeks  and  months,  but  that  she  nevermore  would  walk, 
nor  rise  from  her  bed  of  suffering.  From  that  mo 
ment  a  shadow  rested  upon  Maple  Grove.  No  sound 
of  laughter  or  music  disturbed  its  echoes ;  darkened 
rooms,  low  voices,  and  at  night  a  dim  light  shining 
from  one  room  where  friends  kept  watch  by  a  couch 
of  dreary  pain. 

It  was  two  weeks  before  Lennard,  who  had  had  an 
arm  broken  and  been  otherwise  injured,  could  drag 
himself  into  the  presence  of  Rosa,  who  recognised 
him  by  a  faint  smile,  murmuring  his  name,  the  first 
word  she  had  spoken  since  the  fatal  night.  His  ago 
ny  of  mind  was  too  great  to  bear,  and  they  were 
compelled  to  hurry  him  from  her  sight,  lest  its  be- 

8* 


90  FASHIONABLE   DISSIPATION. 

trayal  should  affect  her.  It  was  not  until  still  anoth 
er  week  had  passed  that  Margaret  summoned  courage 
to  tell  him  the  terrible  truth,  that  Rosa,  their  Rosa 
his  Rosa — was  nevermore  to  walk  forth  upon  the 
beautiful  earth — nevermore  to  be  free  from  pain. 

"  I  cannot  have  it  so,"  he  cried  out  fiercely.  "  It 
shall  not  be  !"  And  he  paced  the  long  piazza  with 
heavy,  defiant  strides  ;  then  when  this  vain  resistance 
of  fate  passed  away,  he  bowed  his  head  upon  poor 
Margaret's  lap,  and  trembled  and  wept  like  a  fright 
ened  child. 

"  Why  was  it  she  who  was  singled  out  from  that 
motley  throng — the  beautiful,  the  young,  the  happy — 
for  such  a  life  ?  Aye  !  can  you  answer  me  that, 
Maggie  ?"  he  burst  forth  again  in  the  same  impetuous 
manner,  after  having  nearly  exhausted  himself  with 
weeping. 

It  added  greatly  to  the  sister's  already  over 
whelming  sorrow,  to  see  such  indications  of  feeling 
from  one  of  so  calm  a  temperament  as  Lennard.  She 
had  not  yet  gained  composure  of  her  own,  so  that 
she  might  attempt  to  console  him. 

Blanche  had  been  a  "  ministering  angel"  in  this 
time  of  affliction  :  her  gentle  hands  were  ready  to 
undertake  kind  offices,  which  those  unnerved  by  grief 
were  unable  to  perform.  By  day  and  night  she  was 


FASHIONABLE   DISSIPATION.  91 

tireless,  tender  and  devoted,  until  Margaret  could 
not  bear  to  part  from  her  an  hour ;  and  even  Mr. 
Lee,  shaken  by  this  heavy  trouble,  seemed  to  depend 
upon  her  cheerfulness  to  keep  him  from  sinking. 

The  weeks  wore  away  in  a  dull,  slow  round.  As 
soon  as  Lennard  could  escape  from  the  business 
duties  which  occupied  his  time  until  dinner,  he  was 
out  at  the  Grove,  and  in  the  sick  room,  sitting  pa 
tiently  hour  after  hour  in  its  stillness  and  darkness, 
satisfied  for  the  moment,  if  the  flowers  he  brought, 
the  words  he  uttered,  called  up  a  smile  upon  the 
pale  and  wasted  features  of  his  Rosa. 

Frederick  for  the  time  being  was  entirely  changed. 
A  woman  could  hardly  be  more  gentle  and  thought 
ful. 

"  I  believe  that  Pierre  is  the  most  miserable  of  all 
of  us,  except  poor  Rosa  herself,"  he  said  once  to 
Blanche,  as  they  sat  talking  of  the  blight  which  had 
come  upon  their  happiness. 

"  He  loves  her  as  much  as  Lennard,  yet  has  not 
the  consolation  of  lingering  by  her  side  and  doing 
those  affectionate  services  which  afford  a  gleam  of 
comfort  to  Charles.  Mrs.  Greenwood  says  that  she 
hears  him  up  in  his  room  almost  all  night,  wandering 
about  like  a  perturbed  spirit,  and  that  she  is  afraid 
that  his  health  will  fail  entirely.  He  has  looked  like 


92  FASHIONABLE   DISSIPATION. 

a  ghost  ever  since  the  awful  shook  he  received  that 
fatal  night." 

"  There  is  but  obe  thing  that  will  restore  him,  and 
that  is  for  us  to  go  home  immediately.  It  is  growing 
too  bleak  for  him  at  the  North,  even  if  his  mind  was 
not  so  engrossed  by  what  surrounds  him  here.  I  must 
leave  you,  Frederick,  and  dear  Rosa.  She  has  many 
friends  who  will  do  all  that  can  be  done  for  her  ;  but 
Pierre  has  only  me ;  I  must  go  with  him  back  to  our 
own  home,  where  we  will  wait  for  better  days." 

"  It  seems  as  if  better  days  were  never  to  come," 
said  her  lover,  moodily  ;  "  as  if  they  never  had  been 
except  in  dreams — that  the  gloomy  present  would 
always  continue." 

"  Do  you  know  Rosa  said  the  same  thing  to  me 
this  morning  ?  I  cannot  forget  her  faint  and  melan 
choly  whisper — <  Blanche  !  was  I  ever  out  of  pain  ? 
was  I  ever  well  and  happy  ?  or  is  it  a  dream  of  some 
past  time  before  this  life  came  upon  me  ?  Shall  I 
ever  be  well  again — be  well  enough  to  laugh,  to  run 
out  of  doors  and  breathe  the  cool  air,  and  sing  aloud? 
Did  Charles  expect  that  we  were  to  be  married  ? — 
Or  is  it  all  a  dream,  Blanche  ?'  Alas,  poor  child  ! 
can  it  be  possible  that  she  never  will  be  out  of  that 
eick-room  again!" 

"  She  does  not  know  that  yet ;  it  will  be  hard  to 


FASHIONABLE    DISSIPATION.  93 

tell  her  the  whole  truth  ;  she  will  feel  it  more  keenly 
when  she  is  enough  better  to  feel  the  wish  strong 
upon  her  to  get  up  and  go  out  into  the  world  again. 
I  wish  every  day  that  she  knew  the  worst,  but  I  do 
not  know  who  there  is  that  can  bear  to  tell  her." 

"  It  will  be  a  sad  message  for  any  one  to  bear." 

"  If  you  must  go  away  from  us,  Blanche,  I  should 
wish  her  to  hear  it  while  you  are  with  us.  We  will 
need  all  the  help  we  can  get  to  keep  up  our  courage. 
But  I  had  hoped  that  you  could  remain  with  us  thia 
winter." 

"  I  must  go  with  Pierre,  and  go  soon  ;  it  is  stormy 
and  cold  already,  and  we  dare  not  delay.  I  do  not 
know  that  Pierre  himself  will  consent  to  leave,  but  I 
shall  use  every  inducement,  for  I  think  that  his 
health  and  life  depend  upon  it.  If  it  will  be  too 
severe  a  trial  for  Maggie  to  communicate  her  fate  to 
Hosa,  I  think  the  doctor,  who  is  so  kind  a  friend, 
will  be  the  one  to  speak  with  her  about  it,  and  I  will 
be  with  her  at  the  time  ;  to-morrow,  if  he  thinks  it 
safest  and  best." 

So  the  next  day  the  truth  was  told  to  the  sick 
girl.  She  uttered  one  faint  cry  of  despair,  and  then 
lay  for  a  long  time  in  silence  as  if  struggling  for 
resignation. 

The  hot  tears  of  Blanche  dropping  fast  upon  her 


94  FASHIONABLE    DISSIPATION. 

wasted  hand,  induced  her  to  make  some  exertion  to 
overcome  her  emotion. 

"  I  think  I  can  bear  it,"  she  whispered,  unclosing 
her  eyes.  "  I  have  borne  so  much,  already — but 
Lennard  —  /  pity  him — it  is  hard  —  it  is  hard, 
Blanche !" 

She  was  not  permitted  to  speak  again  until  she 
was  rested,  when  the  first  question  she  asked,  was, 
"If  Charles  knew  it?"  Upon  being  assured  that  he 
had  known  it  for  weeks,  a  single  tear  rolled  down 
her  cheeks,  and  she  murmured — "  He  still  loves  me 
— is  kind,  more  kind  than  ever." 

Blanche  now  began  preparations  for  going  home. 
The  whole  family  felt  as  it  if  were  impossible  to  spare 
her.  While  they  could  not  deny  that  it  was  the  only 
prudent  course  as  far  as  concerned  Pierre,  who  was 
wasting  away  almost  as  rapidly  as  Rosa  herself.  * 

When  the  day  of  departure  at  length  came,  it  was 
a  hard  struggle  for  both  to  take  leave  of  the  invalid. 
Pierre  stood  a  few  moments  by  her  bed-side,  gazing 
upon  her  with  those  strongly  expressive  and  melan 
choly  eyes  of  his,  while  he  grew  so  pale  that  he 
looked  like  one  about  to  faint. 

"Rosa,  dear  Rosa,"  he  said,  bending  down,  and 
speaking  in  a  touching,  impassioned  tone,  "  if  you 
*ive  to  see  those  who  now  love  you  grow  cold  and 


FASHIONABLE    DISSIPATION.  95 

careless,  and  weary  of  attending  upon  your  days  of 
pain,  do  not  forget  that  there  is  one  who  knows  it 
impossible  that  he  shall  ever  love  you  less.  If  he 
whose  right  it  is  now  to  watch  by  you,  grows  weary 
— and  Rosa,  the  time  is  coming  swiftly — then  one 
whose  love  is  as  deathless  as  his  soul,  may  have  a 
chance  to  prove  that  it  is  you,  sick  or  well,  old  or 
young,  beautiful,  or  blighted  by  suffering,  you  that 
he  loves,  and  not  an  outward  semblance.  Good 
bye." 

Those  who  were  present  did  not  hear  his  words, 
but  they  saw  that  they  agitated  the  sick  girl.  It 
was  not  the  renewed  assurance  of  so  passionate  an 
attachment — it  was  the  startling  fear  of  something 
hitherto  unfeared,  that  troubled  her. 

His  address  was  cruel,  but  he  had  not  meant  it 
to  be  so. 


CHAPTER  VI. 

Charles  Leonard  was  ashamed  to  acknowledge  to 
his  own  soul  that  he  loved  Rosa  less ;  that  it  was 
becoming  a  duty  and  not  a  pleasure  to  spend  hia 
hours  of  leisure  by  her  side ;  that  her  changed  coun 
tenance,  the  absence  of  bloom,  beauty,  high  spirits 
and  the  thousand  charms  of  youthful  gayety  could  so 
soon  deaden  his  passion. 

For  four  months  he  had  not  neglected  her  a  day  j 
he  had  absented  himself  entirely  from  those  scenes 
of  enjoyment  where  he  was  once  delighted  to  please 
and  be  pleased. 

Through  the  holy-days  he  had  refused  her  earnest 
pleadings,  that  he  would  go  out  as  usual  and  be  gay 
and  happy,  and  not  shut  himself  up  in  that  lonely 
chamber. 

He  assured  her  that  it  was  not  dreary  or  lonely 
where  she  was  —  that  she  was  society  and  gayety 
enough  for  him — that  to  bring  a  smile  to  her  pale 
face  was  worth  an  hundred  flatteries  from  the  idle 


FASHIONABLE   DISSIPATION.  97 

crowd.  Yet  he  was  conscious  that  it  was  irksome  to 
be  so  restricted  by  a  sense  of  duty — that  it  was  hard 
to  be  going  in  and  out  of  that  dreary  chamber  with 
a  care-worn  face,  instead  of  with  the  joyful  elation 
of  the  bridegroom,  which  he  had  anticipated  would 
then  be.  He  began  to  look  back  with  doubt  to  the 
time  when  there  had  been  roses  upon  those  pallid 
cheeks,  and  dimples  about  that  feverish  mouth  ;  wteu 
the  poor  invalid  lying  there  forever  in  that  one  po 
sition,  had  bounded  airily  by  his  side,  her  bright  hair 
floating,  and  her  sweet  laugh  ringing  upon  the  sum 
mer  air. 

And  it  was  because  that  he  was  ashamed  to  be, 
as  all  men  are,  so  selfish  in  their  love,  so  brief  in 
their  endurance  of  what  frets  their  will,  that  he  began 
to  seek  a  relief  from  unpleasant  thoughts  in  a  habit 
which  he  had  always  struggled  against,  and  long 
thrown  aside  entirely. 

It  disturbed  Rosa — it  kept  her  awake  when  she 
might  otherwise  have  forgotten  her  constant  suffering 
in  sleep,  to  think  how  often  he  kissed  her  with  the 
wine  odor  lingering  warmly  in  his  breath.  She  re 
membered  that  he  had  avowed  to  her  a  weakness 
against  which  it  was  necessary  that  he  should  strug 
gle  ;  she  feared  that  he  was  yielding  to  it  j  and  with 
a  true  woman's  tenderness,  she  blamed  herself  for 


98  FASHIONABLE    DISSIPATION. 

being  so  unfortunate  as  to  have  rendered  him  un 
happy,  and  so  exposed  him  to  temptation. 

"  It  is  because  I  have  made  him  miserable,  or  be 
cause  he  is  so  wretched  upon  my  account.  I  wish  he 
would  give  me  up — forget  me — and  be  happy  with 
those,  who  like  him,  are  well  and  gay  and  full  of 
hope.  It  must  not  be.  I  shall  not  be  the  means  of 
keeping  him  from  any  happiness  that  might  other 
wise  fall  to  his  lot.  '  I  will  give  him  up." 

Dear  child !  while  she  was  still  schooling  her  heart 
for  the  great  trial ;  still  praying  for  patience  and 
self-denial  to  give  up  the  society  so  precious  to  her, 
she  began  to  feel  that  it  would  require  but  little  effort 
on  her  part  to  break  ties  which  he  was  swiftly  un 
loosing. 

Still  the  weeks  rolled  on  in  a  dull  and  dreary 
round.  Lennard  came  every  day,  but  his  calls  were 
brief  and  constrained. 

In  the  three  or  four  instances  in  which  he  had 
suffered  a  day  to  pass  without  going  to  the  Grove, 
Frederick  learned  that  he  had  been  engaged  with 
dissipated  companions  and  was  in  a  condition  unfit  to 
appear. 

It  began  to  be  rumored  throughout  C that 

young  Lennard,  who  had  been  so  highly  regarded  by 
all,  was  yielding  to  bad  influences,  and  becoming 


FASHIONABLE    DISSIPATION.  99 

somewhat  reckless.     Almost  every   one   pitied  him 
They  laid  his  excuses  at  the  door  of  his  unhappiness. 

"  It  was  such  a  sad  case !"  they  said.  "  He  loved 
Rosa  Lee  so  devotedly,  he  could  never  be  happy 
again.  They  should  not  be  surprised  if  he  died  of  a 
broken  heart,  or  gave  himself  up  to  excess.  It 
would  be  better  if  he  could  forget  her — better  for 
both  !" 

Perhaps  it  would.  It  certainly  would  have  been 
a  case  of  extraordinary  attachment,  if  he  had  not 
done  so  as  quickly  as  he  did.  But  somehow,  when  the 
faith  of  a  woman  is  thus  put  to  the  test,  she  is  apt  to 
bear  it  bravely,  and  at  least  not  to  make  it  an  excuse 
for  perpetual  evil-doing  on  her  part.  No  !  if  Len- 
nard  had  been  able  to  resign  his  hopes  of  a  more  glow 
ing  happiness,  and  to  be  true  to  his  affianced  in  life  and 
death,  the  consciousness  of  his  own  nobility  would 
have  afforded  him  some  pure  contentment,  and  he 
would  not  have  been  half  as  unhappy  as  he  was.  It 
was  because  he  was  not  satisfied  with  his  own  heart, 
that  he  drowned  its  accusings  in  the  wine  cup. 

Even  the  gentle  Margaret  pitied  him,  and  wished 
him  to  be  free  from  all  obligations  to  continue 
near  her  sister,  if  that  would  save  him  from  impend 
ing  danger.  She  even  sought  to  convince  him  that 
he  did  himself  injustice  not  to  banish  as  far  as  possi- 


100  FASHIONABLE  DISSIPATION. 

ble  from  his  mind  the  thought  that  he  had  once 
anticipated  a  happiness  which  fate  had  denied  him. 
Rosa,  herself,  spoke  of  it  so  bravely  and  concealed  so 
passionately  her  tears,  that  they  were  deceived  as  to 
how  deeply  the  arrow  had  pierced  her  soul 

"  Maggie,  dear,"  she  began,  one  bright  day  in  the 
early  Spring,  when  she  had  been  cheered  by  the 
sunshine  let  in  freely  into  the  long  darkened  cham 
ber,  and  by  the  delicate  wind-flowers  which  lay  upon 
her  pillow,  "  I  want  you  to  bring  me  a  mirror.  I  want 
to  see  how  much  I  am  changed." 

"  You  are  not  changed  at  all  in  the  hearts  that  love 
you,"  was  the  affectionate  reply.     "  So  never  mind 
the  mirror,  Rosa." 
v    The  invalid  heaved  a  deep  sigh. 

"  Then  one  heart  never  did  truly  love  me,"  was 
her  thought.  She  did  not  speak  it,  but  pleaded  for 
a  glass,  and  Margaret  at  last  brought  a  small  mirror 
and  held  it  where  she,  propped  upon  her  pillows, 
could  gaze  upon  the  reflection  of  her  then  wan  coun 
tenance. 

"  I  am  sadly  altered — I  should  not  know  myself, 
Maggie." 

"  If  it  was  not  for  that  cruel  pain  which  keeps  you 
so  pale,  you  would  be  prettier  than  ever,  my  sweet 
Rosa.  That  is  a  delicate,  spiritual  face  you  see  theve 


FASHIONABLE  DISSIPATION!  101 

— the  curls  are  the  same,  dancing,  bright,  profuse 
curls  as  ever — the  eyes  are  dim  with  pain,  perhaps, 
but  they  brighten  so  with  love  and  are  so  beautiful 
with  patience.  Indeed ,  darling,  you  are  prettier  than 
ever.  Now,  when  I  put  these  blossoms  in  your  hair — 
don't  y»ou  think  so?"  and  Maggie  kissed  the  pale 
forehead. 

"  I  do  not  know — these  hollows  in  my  cheeks  are 
not  lovely,"  replied  the  invalid,  bringing  her  delicate, 
transparent  hand  with  an  effort  up  to  her  face.  "  But 
I  do  not  care  for  the  loss  of  beauty,  Maggie ;  don't 
think  me  so  foolish  as  that.  I  wanted  to  see  myself, 
of  course ;  it  is  a  long  time  since  I  have  beheld  my 
best  friend,"  and  she  smiled. 

"You  ought  to  be  called  Lily,  now,  and  I  be 
Rose,"  said  her  little  sister,  as  she  laid  her  bright 
head  close  to  hers  upon  the  pillow,  scattered  over 
with  the  flowers  she  had  been  out  in  the  meadows  to 
gather  for  the  beloved  one. 

"Yes  \  a  poor,  broken,  blighted  Lily !"  murmured 
Rosa,  and  sighed  again. 

It  is  not  strange  that  a  beauty  should  be  so  proud 
of  her  personal  attractions  and  consider  them  of  su 
perior  importance,  and  all  her  qualities  of  heart  and 
mind  as  inferior,  when  she  finds  of  what  priceless 
value  they  are  in  the  eyes  of  men.  Or  that  Rosa 
9* 


102  FASHIONABLE   DISSIPATION. 

Lee  should  lament  the  loss  of  loveliness  which  she 
was  but  little  vain  of  while  it  was  hers,  but  whose 
worth  she  learned  when  it  had  vanished. 

"  A  blighted,  broken  Lily,"  she  repeated  softly  to 
herself,  "  cast  aside  while  withering — never  to  be 
worn  upon  the  bosom  of  a  friend." 

Now  that  Rosa  was  as  well,  perhaps,  as  she  ever 
would  be,  and  could  talk,  and  see  her  old  acquain 
tances,  and  enjoy  the  boquets  which  were  brought 
her,  the  books  that  were  read  to  her,  and  take  some 
interest  in  passing  events,  she  became  anxious  to 
promote  the  happiness  of  her  friends.  Frederick, 
who  had  been  so  tender  and  true,  through  the  worst 
of  her  trials,  she  was  determined  should  not  delay 
his  marriage  with  Blanche  upon  account  of  her  dis 
appointments.  Her  only  happiness  now,  she  said, 
would  be  to  see  those  she  loved  in  pleasant  circum 
stances. 

Blanche's  letters  through  the  winter  had  not  al 
ways  been  of  the  most  hopeful  character.  She  had 
constant  anxiety  about  her  brother,  who,  at  one  time, 
she  would  state,  was  away  from  her  in  the  city,  lead 
ing  a  life  of  reckless  magnificence,  and  again,  at  home 
moody  and  ill. 

In  answer  to  Frederick's  eloquent  appeal,  begging 
permission  to  come  after  her,  she  replied  that  Pierre  was 


FASHIONABLE   DISSIPATION.  103 

then  dangerously  sick,  and  she  did  not  know  as  it 
would  ever  be  that  she  should  be  at  liberty  to  marry, 
and  so  in  a  measure  forsake  him  ;  but  as  she  was 
evidently  lonely,  melancholy,  and  in  want  of  the 
friendship  and  help  of  a  stronger  spirit,  it  did  not 
deter  her  lover  from  replying  that  he  should  come 
to  her  immediately,  and  that  she  might  then  do  as 
she  thought  best  for  all  of  them. 

It  was  well  known  in  C ,  where  Frederick 

Lee  had  always  lived,  and  was  universally  esteemed, 
that  his  object  in  taking  so  long  a  journey  to  the 
South,  was  to  bring  home  the  beautiful  stranger  who 
had  won  their  hearts  the  previous  summer.  He  met 
congratulations  and  gay  wishes  upon  every  hand,  and 
the  evening  previous  to  the  day  of  his  departure,  a 
number  of  his  old  friends  gave  a  supper  in  his  hon 
our.  It  was  the  first  affair  of  the  kind  which  he  had 
attended  since  Rosa's  illness,  though  Lennard  had 
been  as  gay  as  ever  for  the  last  few  weeks. 

The  supper  was  a  luxurious  one,  and  his  com 
panions  so  full  of  vivacity  that  Frederick  could  not 
but  oast  aside  all  care  for  the  present  hour,  and  join 
with  his  old  mirthfulness  and  wit  in  the  festivities. 

He  regarded  Lennard  in  silent  amazement  at 
times,  a  great  change  had  come  over  his  manners  ; 
instead  of  being  quiet,  reserved,  a  check  upon  the 


104  FASHIONABLE   DISSIPATION. 

mischievous  wildness  of  his  friends,  and  giving  utter 
ance,  when  he  did  speak,  to  some  quaint  and  keen 
sally  which  would  set  the  table  in  a  roar,  he  was  the 
most  boisterous  of  the  party,  drinking  incessantly, 
and  making  constant  attempts  to  attract  attention  to 
his  own  brilliant  efforts. 

About  one  o'clock  in  the  morning  any  one  with 
eyes  that  can  see  through  closed  doors,  might  have 
amused  himself  with  the  scene  got  up  in  the  Young 
Men's  Club  Room,  in  the  second  story  of  the 
American,  in  C . 

These  clubs  and  champagne  suppers  and  the  like, 
must  always  remain  a  wonder  to  women,  who  cannot 
comprehend  why  their  husbands,  brothers,  lovers 
and  friends,  so  agreeable,  so  polite  in  their  company, 
can  have  tastes  and  enjoyments  too  gross  for  them 
to  share. 

Frederick  and  his  friends  had  eaten  all  that  the 
circumstances  would  possibly  allow ;  the  servants 
had  done  bringing  in  and  clearing  away  the  rare 
courses  which  the  epicure  par  excellence  of  the  Club, 
had  ordered ;  and  after  having,  as  a  parting  duty, 
strewed  the  table  with  bottles  and  cigars,  they  retired 
and  left  their  masters  to  the  undisturbed  enjoyment 
of  each  other's  society. 

The  flowers  which  lavishly  adorned  the  room  began 


FASHIONABLE   DISSIPATION.  105 

to  droop  with  mortification  at  some  of  the  rude  wit 
ticisms  of  people  they  had  heretofore  had  a  leaning 
towards,  and  their  sweet  breath,  which  had  so  refined 
the  atmosphere  and  added  to  the  delicate  flavor  of 
the  first  soups  and  viands,  was  now  quite  choked 
and  expired  convulsively,  being  overpowered  by  the 
fumes  of  costly  and  exquisite  tobacco,  voluptuously 
inhaled  through  foreign  hookahs,  and  dispersed  indo 
lently  through  the  eyes  and  nostrils,  or  puffed 
dreamily  from  unutterably  perfect  cigars.  Artists 
seeking  new  and  inimitable  groups  and  postures  in 
which  to  present  the  heroes  of  statuary  and  painting, 
might  have  here  studied  unstudied  grace,  and  caught 
the  effect  of  a  gesture  in  position,  which  would  have 
rendered  its  preserver  immortal. 

Lennard,  who  had  sung  himself  hoarse,  smoked 
himself  sleepy,  and  drank  himself  stupid,  lay  upon  a 
lounge,  with  the  amber  mouth-piece  of  his  Turkish 
pipe  between  his  fingers,  looking  on  with  dull  eyes  at 
the  rest,  and  joining  in  with  a  loud  laugh,  whenever 
they  had  anything  to  be  merry  about.  Another  young 
man  was  paying  his  respects  to  his  friend  in  the 
mirror,  while  another,  who  saw  double,  in  attempting 
to  take  a  comfortable  seat  in  an  arm-chair,  had  set 
down  in  the  one  which  was  not^  and  being  too  indo 
lent  to  redeem  his  mistake,  still  occupied  the  floor. 


106  FASHIONABLE   DISSIPATION. 

Frederick  could  not  deny  to  his  own  conscience 
but  that  he  was  a  little  more  exhilarated  than  he  had 
any  right  to  be,  but  he  felt  very  happy  and  bright. 
Sparkles  of  fun,  gems  of  wit  seemed  to  float  upon 
the  brim  of  his  glass,  and  every  time  he  sipped  them 
down  they  rose  to  his  lips  again  in  a  shape  to  make 
his  friends'  heads  ache  with  laughing,  and  hearts  with 
envy. 

After  the  bride-to-be  had  been  respectfully  toasted, 
and  the  bridegroom  had  made  a  handsome  reply,  a 
thin  youth  with  very  light  hair  and  eyes,  and  a  kind 
of  sarcastic  curl-downwards  of  the  mouth,  sprang 
upon  the  table — 

"  My  friends,"  said  he,  "  I  want  you  all  to  do  full 
justice  to  the  occasion,  as  well  as  to  the  liquids  for 
which  the  Club  is  famous,  by  getting  as  gloriously 
drunk  as  possible.  Let  us  not  have  any  of  your 
half-way  celebrations.  The  rules  which  were  laid 
down  by  <  Festus'  at  his  festival,  will  do  for  every 
such  occasion  as  this — and  that  reminds  me  that  I 
am  going  to  have  them  painted  in  letters  of  gold 
and  hung  up  in  the  arch  yonder.  But,  as  I  was 
saying,  the  lady  might  be  offended  if  it  should  ever 
reach  her  ears,  that  her  lord  saw  fit  to  get  only 
partially  drunk  in  honor  of  so  important  an  event. 
To  make  a  sublime  fool  and  a  beautiful  beast  of  one's 


FASHIONABLE    DISSIPATION.  107 

self,  seems  the  only  rational  and  popular  way  of 
showing  one's  joy  when  something  particularly  good 
has  happened  or  intends  to  happen.  What  would 
the  Fourth  of  July  be  if  the  men  it  made  free,  did 
not  see  fit  to  commemorate  it  by  getting  gloriously 
drunk  ?  When  a  friend  is  elected  to  office,  how  can 
we  show  our  sympathy  but  by  getting  gloriously 
drunk  ?  or  elect  a  President — or  welcome  a  new 
member  to  the  Club — or  bid  farewell  to  one — or  have 
a  fortune  left  to  us — or  one  taken  away — without 
getting  gloriously  drunk?  And  what  way  so  appro 
priate  to  show  our  respect  for  the  young  maiden  who 
is  our  toast,  as  to  get  drunk  in  testifying  our  esteem  ? 
And,  by  the  way,  why  should  the  ladies  be  debarred 
the  privilege  ?  I  presume  that  it  would  be  peculiarly 
gratifying  to  our  fortunate  and  admired  friend  here, 
who  for  the  last  time  graces  our  Bachelor  Club  with 
his  inspiring  presence,  if  he  could  learn  that  his 
beautiful  Blanche  was  celebrating  his  expected  coin 
ing  in  a  similar  manner  with  a  few  of  her  female 
friends.  It  would  be  a  preparation  eminently  be 
coming  before  entering  upon  the  high  and  holy  state 

of  " 

"  Down  with  him !"  cried  two  or  three,  interrupt 
ing  the  speaker,  who  was  saying  all  this  in  a  sneering 
tone,  but  with  a  smiling  face,  "  his  sentiments,  if 


108  FASHIONABLE   DISSIPATION. 

not  his  words,  are  opposed  to  the  spirit  of  our  insti 
tutions.  Barclay  Brown,  you  are  forbidden  to  open 
your  mouth  again  this  night,  except  for  the  purpose 
of  emptying  therein  such  waste  liquids  as  might 
otherwise  <  die  undrank.'  " 

Brown  came  down  from  among  the  bottles  with  a 
grimace,  and  remarking  that  it  was  easier  to  "  Preach 
than  practice,"  began  pouring  out  a  glass  of  amber- 
colored,  aromatic  sherry. 

Frederick's  soul  was  not  so  steeped  in  the  pleasant 
wine-fumes  but  that  he  was  conscious  of  its  being 
jarred  by  the  last  part  of  the  address;  the  idea 
struck  him  that  the  pure,  delicate,  and  lily-like  crea 
ture  he  so  adored,  would  not  be  pleased  to  look  in 
upon  him  then,  and  he  wished  the  hour  for  him  to 
withdraw  from  the  room  had  arrived.  Such  impres 
sions,  however,  quickly  vanished,  and  did  not  recur 
until  the  party  broke  up,  and  he  found  himself  walk 
ing  home  in  the  pure  morning  air,  the  stars  looking 
down  pale  and  reproachful,  and  Aurora  blushing  as 
if  with  shame. 

"  I  will  never  be  guilty  of  joining  a  married-men's 
Club,  now  that  I  am  honorably  free  from  this,"  he 
murmured,  "  such  kind  of  pleasure  is  of  a  false  and 
hollow  kind,  and  I  wonder  so  many  of  us  young  men 
are  led  into  such  extremes,  until  we  make  a  dissipa- 


FASHIONABLE   DISSIPATION.  109 

tion  of  our  enjoyments.  Dear  Blanche  !  you  must 
forgive  me  this,  and  your  name  shall  never  be  writ  in 
rosy  wine  by  me  again." 

It  may  be  that  the  head  ache  he  had,  and  the 
weary  feeling  of  satiety  may  have  assisted  him  to 
this  good  resolution ;  and  just  as  he  finished  his 
appeal  to  his  absent  lady  love,  his  eyes  being  fixed 
upon  the  space  her  fancied  image  filled,  he  stumbled 
over  an  obstruction  in  the  path  and  fell  full  length 
in  the  dust,  which  being  damp,  with  dew,  clung  to 
his  clothes,  and  gave  him  the  appearance  of  being  in 
a  worse  condition  than  he  really  was  ;  but  it  aided  in 
strengthening  his  dislike  to  night-revels,  and  was 
therefore  a  lucky  accident. 

After  a  few  hours  of  feverish  sleep  he  breakfasted, 
and  after  completing  all  his  preparations,  and  sending 
Jupiter  to  the  depot  with  his  baggage,  he  went  to 
bid  Rosa  good  bye. 

She  knew  where  he  had  been  the  previous  night, 
and  begged  .of  him  eagerly,  earnestly,  passionately, 
to  tell  her  how  Lennard  conducted  himself,  and  if 
the  change  which  she  detected  in  him,  was  observa 
ble  in  society.  Her  large  eyes  were  fixed  so  search- 
ingly  upon  his  face,  that  he  could  not  evade  the 
truth;  he  confessed  that  Lennard  seemed  like  a 
10 


110  FASHIONABLE   DISSIPATION. 

different  man — was  vacillating,  irritable,  capricious, 
and  even  dissipated. 

"  Oh !"  said  the  beautiful  sufferer,  closing  her  eyes 
with  a  deep  sigh,  and  covering  them  with  one  wan 
hand  as  if  to  shut  out  thought  with  light,  "  how 
gladly,  how  swiftly  would  I  die,  rather  than  that  he 
should  so  change." 

The  tears  stood  in  her  brother's  eyes  as  he  tried  to 
comfort  her,  and  she  soon  rallied  and  with  a  patient 
smile  sent  her  love,  her  warmest  wishes  to  Blanche, 
and  bidding  him  to  return  with  her  as  quickly  as  cir 
cumstances  would  permit,  she  gave  him  the  parting 
kiss,  and  was  left  to  the  loneliness,  the  sadness,  the 
gloom  of  her  sick  chamber  and  her  vanished  hopes, 
while  Frederick  went  forth,  elate,  happy,  fearless,  to 
realize  his  most  eager  and  triumphant  wishes. 

And  how  lonely,  how  gloomy,  that  chamber  seemed 
to  Rosa  for  the  next  few  hours,  none  but  those  who 
have  passed  through  such  dark  places  in  life,  can 
imagine.  The  sense  of  what  she  had  suffered  and 
what  she  must  still  suffer — of  what  she  had  given  up 
and  had  yet  to  resign — of  the  fearful  shadow  which 
came  all  at  once  between  her  and  sunlight — of  the 
dreams  she  had,  dreams,  rose-colored  and  fair,  con 
trasted  with  this  dreadful  reality — came  even  with 
wilder  power  than  ever  before,  opposed  by  the  happy 


FASHIONABLE   DISSIPATION.  Ill 

prospects  of  Frederick  and  Blanche — till  her  trial 
seemed  too  great  to  bear,  and  she  prayed  for  death. 
As  the  morning  rolled  slowly  on,  the  intensity  of  her 
agony  exhausted  itself,  she  grew  too  weak  to  feel  so 
madly  ;  and  Margaret  coming  in,  after  her  brother 
had  left,  found  her  so  faint  and  pale  that  she  was  al 
armed  and  would  have  summoned  her  father. 

"  No — no  !  Maggie,  it  is  mental  pain  I  have  been 
suffering ;  otherwise  I  am  as  well  as  usual,  Do  not 
tell  any  one  that  I  have  been  so  foolish,  but  think 
ing  of  Frederick — and  Blanche — and  all — oh,  Maggie, 
I  have  had  a  struggle.  But  it  is  over— past — the  worst 
is  past!"  and  after  uttering  other  words  in  a  weak 
voice,  Rosa  tried  to  assume  a  cheerful  look. 

"  Lennard  has  sent  Miss  Barrett's  Poems  for  me 
to  read  to  you  this  morning,"  replied  Margaret,  turn 
ing  away  for  a  moment  to  conceal  the  sob  which 
shook  her  at  hearing  her  sister's  touching  whisper  ; 
"  but  you  are  too  weary,  now.  What  shall  I  do  for 
you  ?» 

"You  may  give  me  my  cordial,  Maggie,  and  hand 
me  those  April  violets  Lily  left,  and  then  you  may 
read.  It  will  not  tire  me  ;  perhaps  I  shall  sleep." 

Margaret  sat  where  she  could  sometimes  bend  for 
ward  acd  kiss  the  sick  girl's  forehead,  while  she  read 
the  "  Lady  Geraldine,"  in  a  sweet  and  soothing 


112  FASHIONABLE  DISSIPATION. 

x 

tone,  so  full  of  the  love  and  tenderness  which  she 
felt,  that  the  beautiful  poem  sounded  still  more  ex 
quisite  from  her  lips.  Listening  to  her  the  invalid 
dropped  into  a  refreshing  slumber,  the  tears  yet 
standing  upon  her  pale  cheeks  like  dew  upon  white 
roses. 

And  thus  Margaret  left  her,  to  attend  to  other 
duties  which  demanded  her  attention  ;  for  the  young 
girl  had  daily  more  cares,  and  passed  her  life  in  a 
steady  round  of  employments,  and  in  adding  to  the 
happiness  of  those  about  her.  Even  Towser,  when 
he  had  wounded  his  foot,  knew  to  whom  to  apply  to 
get  it  bound  up,  and  came  limping  to  our  lovely 
house-keeper  with  a  mute  appeal  in  his  eyes,  as  she 
came  down  stairs. 


CHAPTER  VII. 

Charles  Leonard  had  parted  from  Rosa.     He  was 

going  to  be  absent  from  C for  a  year  on  business. 

He  had  heretofore  lived  easily  and  with  no  thought 
about  providing  for  himself  j  as  he  was  the  adopted 
son  and  heir  of  a  wealthy  uncle  ;  but  this  uncle  be 
gan  to  dread  the  habits  which  his  nephew  was  form 
ing,  and  had  offered  him  all  the  money  that  was  to  be 
made  by  it  if  he  would  go  and  attend  to  some  affairs 
for  him  in  a  distant  city.  He  thought  that  n-ew  oc 
cupations  and  associations  would  drive  out  of  his 
mind  the  memory  of  his  disappointment,  and  leave 
him  more  at  liberty  to  make  another  choice  ;  for  Mr. 
Lennard,  senior,  was  not  a  sentimental  man,  and 
although  he  had  formerly  been  highly  pleased  with 
the  idea  of  Rosa  Lee  for  a  niece  ;  now  that  she  was 
destined  never  to  marry,  he  saw  no  reason  why  his 
nephew  should  not  be  happy  with  somebody  else. 

For  a  while  Charles  hesitated ;  he  knew  his  going 
away  would  be  received  at  Maple  Grove  as  a  tacit 
10*  113 


114  FASHIONABLE  DISSIPATION. 

renunciation  of  all  his  interest  in  his  betrothed,  and 
though  he  had  not  heart  enough  to  be  true  to  her,  he 
had  enough  to  shrink  from  showing  so  plainly  the 
change  which  had  come  over  his  feelings.  Policy 
soon  got  the  better  of  pity,  assisted  as  it  was  by 
those  regrets  which  kept  him  in  a  state  of  unrest. 

He  had  been  to  bid  her  farewell.  His  manner 
was  gentle,  tender,  sorrowful,  and  his  words  softened 
by  affection  and  remorse ;  but  Rosa  felt  the  full 
meaning  of  his  desertion  at  that  time.  But  she  urged 
him  to  go — approved  of  his  going — telling  him  with 
sweetness  that  increased  his  own  bitterness  of  self- 
reproach,  that  she  hoped  and  prayed  for  his  success, 
and  that  no  shadow  might  fall  again  across  his  path. 

As  he  walked  rapidly  back  to  town,  he  was  followed 
in  all  his  thoughts  by  those  unutterably  sad  and  pa 
tient  eyes  which  were  fixed  upon  him  as  he  left  her 
chamber.  He  was  almost  tempted  to  rush  back  and 
tell  that  pale  invalid  that  she  was  dearer  to  him  than 
ever — that  he  would  never  forsake  her,  any  more  than 
as  though  he  had  already  promised  before  the  altar 
to  cherish  her  through  sickness  and  health,  for  better 
or  worse. 

But  that  hardness  of  his  nature  which  had  hereto 
fore  given  an  appearance  of  firmness  and  coldness  to 
his  character,  interposed  itself,  triumphed  over  more 


FASHIONABLE    DISSIPATION.  115 

noble  impulses,  and  hurried  him  on  in  the  worldly 
way. 

Resolved  to  turn  relentlessly  from  all  haunting 

dreams  of  the  past,  he  left  C and  its  one  pale 

picture  "  hanging  in  memory's  hall"  behind.  Two 
or  three  days  of  travelling  brought  him  to  his  desti 
nation.  Here  the  letters  of  his  uncle  introduced  him 
at  once  to  the  favor  of  a  large  and  brilliant  circle, 
who  exerted  themselves  to  render  the  agreeable 
stranger  at  home  in  their  midst. 

It  was  still  Spring,  and  those  who  had  wearied  of 
the  dullness  of  Lent,  were  repaying  themselves  for 
forty  days  of  quiet,  by  a  little  more  gayety,  before 
warm  weather  should  send  them  out  of  the  city. 

Besides  some  quite  magnificent  parties  which  his 
new  friends  were  pleased  to  make  for  him,  he  was 
constantly  solicited  to  join  them  in  rides,  visits  to 
picture  galleries  and  operas,  and  in  social  gatherings. 
Among  the  ladies  whom  he  met  most  frequently,  was 
a  Miss  Evelyn  Hubbard,  a  relative  of  the  gentleman 
in  whose  family  he  was  residing.  At  their  first 
meeting  the  feeling  towards  her  was  one  of  repulsion 
instead  of  attraction.  He  thought  there  was  some 
thing  too  assured  and  confident  in  her  expression,  and 
a  want  of  candor  and  womanly  refinement  in  her 


116  FASHIONABLE   DISSIPATION. 

demeanor.  She  was  not  beautiful,  and  certainly  not 
plain-looking ;  her  dress  was  in  too  good  taste  and 
her  address  too  graceful  not  to  prevent  her  being 
plain.  Her  hair  was  peculiarly  fine,  and  her  eyes — 
Lennard  did  not  know  whether  to  think  them  ugly  or 
handsome ;  it  was  a  great  deal  as  she  was  feeling  or 
talking  at  the  moment.  They  were  a  dark  grey  with 
large  pupils  and  long  black  lashes,  which  gave  them 
often  a  dreamy  and  winning  shade ;  and  sometimes 
they  were  fiery  and  defiant.  They  were  expressive 
— there  was  no  doubt  about  that — too  much  so  at 
times — for  as  she  did  not  always  have  good-natured 
or  womanly  thoughts,  they  sometimes  told  too  much 
of  the  story  of  her  heart.  She  had  accomplishments 
which  she  would  create  many  opportunities  for  dis 
playing,  and  then  shrink  back  at  the  moment  they 
were  called  upon  with  a  modesty  that  was  artfully 
affected. 

She  sang  well — her  admirers  said  splendidly !  in 
a  clear,  rich,  powerful  voice  that  would  have  been  at 
home  in  an  opera,  and  as  there  was  a  slight  touch  of 
the  theatrical  in  her  manner,  it  added  to  the  impres 
sion  of  her  singing.  She  soon  observed  that  this 
talent  did  not  seem  to  impress  Mr.  Lennard  as  it  had 
others,  that  he  rather  avoided  the  circle  which  was 
wont  to  gather  around  the  piano  when  she  conde- 


FASHIONABLE  DISSIPATION.  117 

scended  to  yield  to  their  solicitations.  She  was  dis 
appointed  at  this  ;  for  from  the  first  moment  that  she 
had  seen  and  heard  of  the  youthful,  talented,  and 
wealthy  gentleman  who  had  come  into  her  cousin's 
family,  she  was  satisfied  that  this  was  the  opportunity 
she  had  so  long  desired  of  playing  her  cards  for  a 
high  stake. 

Evelyn  Hubbard  was  poor,  and  her  own  father  and 
mother  were  coarse  people,  whom  she  desired  to  keep 
out  of  sight  as  much  as  possible,  while  she  ingratiat 
ed  herself  into  the  good  will  of  her  more  fortunate 
relatives,  who  bestowed  upon  her  masters  while  she 
attended  school,  and  fine  clothes,  now  that  she  was 
in  society. 

She  might  have  made  her  fortune  if  she  had  been 
a  street  beggar,  she  had  such  a  wonderful  tact  in 
wiling  from  her  acquaintances  articles  of  jewelry, 
and  bijouterie,  and  from  her  friends  any  coveted 
article  of  dress.  She  would  fall  into  such  ecstacies 
over  the  thing  she  desired,  and  be  so  passionate  in 
her  admiration  of  it,  that  it  was  impossible  not  to 
offer  it  to  her,  and  to  be  rejoiced  at  the  thought  that 
one  could  make  her  so  overwhelmingly  happy  by  so 
simple  a  gift.  Therefore  Evelyn  had  been  able  to 
keep  up  as  showy  an  appearance  as  any  of  the  heir 
esses  with  whom  she  associated,  and  had  had  almost 


118  FASHIONABLE    DISSIPATION. 

as  brilliant  a  constellation  of  admirers  surrounding 
her. 

But  she  loved  luxury,  and  had  a  yearning  after 
splendor.  Of  all  the  gentlemen  whom  the  persuasive 
glances  of  her  well-disciplined  eyes  had  brought  to 
her  feet,  there  had  as  yet  none  offered  himself,  whose 
fortunes  were  equal  to  her  aspirations,  and  being  now 
in  her  twenty-first  year,  she  felt  it  imperatively  her 
duty  to  herself,  to  exert  to  the  utmost  powers  which 
had  gained  by  long  use,  upon  this  prize  so  opportunely 
thrown  within  her  reach. 

The  only  reason  Lennard  had  for  not  liking  her 
music,  was  that  it  called  up  painful  memories.  Rosa 
had  been  so  fond  of  her  piano,  that  he  would  gladly 
have  never  heard  another  note  struck,  if  he  could 
have  prevented  it. 

The  image  recalled  to  his  mind  of  that  gay  and 
artless  young  creature  pouring  out  her  innocent  soul 
in  warbling  melodies,  while  her  dimpled  hands  ran 
over  the  keys,  which,  wasted  and  wan,  they  were 
never  more  to  touch,  served  often  to  drive  him  from 
cheerful  rooms  out  into  the  lonely  night. 

Miss  Hubbard  had,  by  dint  of  careful  inquiry, 
learned  his  previous  history  and  his  present  position 
with  regard  to  his  former  betrothal.  It  may  be  that 
she  pitied  the  woman  who  had  lost  the  chance  of  sc- 


FASHIONABLE    DISSIPATION.  119 

curing  a  treasure  which  she  coveted,  but  it  did  not 
disturb  her  resolves  that  it  was  now  for  her  to  secure 
it  if  possible. 

It  became  the  study  of  her  waking  hours  to  please 
him.  She  adapted  herself  with  tact  to  his  tastes, 
and  watched  closely  that  the  disagreeable  part  of 
her  disposition  was  kept  out  of  sight  in  his  presence. 

One  evening  she  was  at  her  cousin's,  when  there 
were  no  guests.  The  family  was  sitting  about  the 
room,  reading  and  talking,  while  Lennard  somewhat 
wearied  with  business  that  had  taken  up  the  after 
noon,  occupied  the  corner  of  a  sofa,  and  did  not  enter 
as  readily  as  usual  into  the  amusing  conversation  she 
commenced. 

Highly  displeased  by  his  reserve,  she  went  to  the 
piano  and  played  for  nearly  an  hour,  the  most  bril 
liant  and  fashionable  music  she  could  think  of.  Sud 
denly  she  paused  a  moment,  and  began  in  a  voice  of 
sadness  and  sweetness  very  different  from  her  usual 
powerful  style,  that  old  song — 

"The  last  link  is  broken 
Which  bound  me  to  thee." 

Lennard's  soul  had  been  in  a  tremble  for  the  last 
half  hour,  and  this  last  was  more  than  he  could  bear. 

He  arose  while  she  was  singing,  and  passed  into 
the  tea-room,  off  the  parlor.  Here  a  window  was 


120  FASHIONABLE   DISSIPATION. 

open,  and  he  stepped  out  upon  the  balcony  and  lean 
ed  over  the  balustrade ;.  but  the  night  air  did  not 
refresh  him  ;  it  was  full  of  the  odor  of  June  roses 
which  had  just  began  to  blow  in  the  garden  beneath, 
and  every  breath  of  sweetness  seemed  to  him  an 
accusing  sigh,  murmuring  of  Maple  Grove  and  Junes 
gone  by.  He  bowed  his  head  upon  his  hand,  and 
remained  in  a  reverie  for  several  moments  after  the 
last  note  of  the  song  that  Evelyn  had  sung  died 
away. 

"  Are  you  sad  or  are  you  ill  ?"  said  a  low  voice. 

He  looked  and  found  her  standing  by  his  side. 

"  I  am  both,"  he  replied  briefly ;  then  he  regretted 
that  he  had  replied  so  coldly,  for  her  whole  demean 
or  was  kind,  sympathetic,  almost  sorrowful. 

"  I  shall  be  grieved  if  it  was  the  choice  I  made  of 
songs,  which  has  called  up  unhappy  recollections." 

Her  voice  was  soft  and  pitying.  He  wondered  if 
it  were  possible  that  she  knew  of  the  dark  day  in  his 
history,  and  observing  her  earnestly,  he  asked  him 
self  how  he  could  ever  have  thought  those  eyes  not 
beautiful  which  were  regarding  him  so  earnestly, 
softened  by  tears  which  the  next  instant  dropped 
upon  her  cheeks. 

She  turned  as  if  to  conceal  them.  Charles  began 
to  hope  that  she  did  know  of  the  r>ast.  It  would 


FASHIONABLE   DISSIPATION.  121 

lighten  his  conscience  to  speak  freely  of  his  unhappi- 
ness  to  some  one  who  would  not  blame  him  ;  and 
that  Evelyn  would  not,  was  evident  from  the  deep 
commiseration  in  her  eyes. 

"  Can  it  be,  Miss  Hubbard,  that  you  know  of  any 
reason  why  that  particular  song  should  affect  me  ?" 

"  It  is  impossible  that  I  should  have  observed 
your  frequent  gloom  without  knowing  that  some 
cross  had  been  made  for  you  to  bear.  Oh,  Mr. 
Lennard,"  she  added  impulsively,  turning  her  face 
again  towards  him  sparkling  with  tears — "  I  pity 
you  !  I  pity  you  !" 

She  did  not  say  that  she  pitied  Rosa  Lee.  That 
would  not  have  been  soothing  to  him — she  pitied  him, 
and  he  was  glad  to  hear  that  there  was  at  least  some 
one  whose  sympathy  for  him  was  not  deadened  by  a 
deeper  sorrow  for  the  greatest  sufferer.  So  he  was 
led  on  to  talk  of  the  past,  the  present,  and  the  future, 
while  she  listened  with  interest,  deploring  with  him 
the  past,  but  not  as  yet  holding  out  any  hope  for 
coming  years,  except  to  say — 

"  That  it  would  be  wrong — ungrateful  to  the  Giver 
of  good,  if  he  should  continue  through  a  long  life  to 
sacrifice  the  blessings  of  the  present  upon  the  tomb 
of  old  sorrows." 

They  turned  at  last  to  go  back  to  the  parlor.     Up- 
11 


122  FASHIONABLE   DISSIPATION. 

on  the  table  in  the  tea-room  was  a  basket  of  cake, 
some  fruit  and  wine. 

"  You  are  pale  and  exhausted,"  said  Evelyn  kind 
ly  ;  "  let  me  pour  out  a  glass  of  wine  for  you.  You 
will  take  it  from  my  hand,"  she  continued  cheerfully ; 
"  for  though  I  am  no  Hebe,  yet  I  only  give  my 
friends  good  gifts,  and  I  know  that  in  wine  dwells 
healing  and  heart-warming  power." 

Her  companion  took  the  glass  eagerly.  Had  Miss 
Ilubbard  known  as  much  as  his  older  friends  the 
danger  of  such  temptation  to  him,  she  would  not  have 
offered  it  for  her  own  sake ;  but  she,  too,  was  fond  of 
the  delicious  sweetness  of  the  wine,  and  liked  an 
excuse  for  taking  some  with  him.  They  drew  a 
couple  of  chairs  to  the  table,  and  while  she  dipped  a 
piece  of  cake  in  her  glass  and  trifled  with  some 
strawberries,  he  quaffed  more  than  wine  enough  to 
bring  the  color  to  his  face.  She  was  surprised  to 
observe  him,  but  attributed  it  to  the  painful  excite 
ment  of  his  mind.  She  would  have  been  more  sur 
prised  if  she  could  have  seen  him,  after  he  had  walked 
home  with  her,  return  to  the  tea-room  and  finish  the 


From  that  time  Evelyn  began  to  hope  for  success. 
Her  parents,  although  they  had  not  been  won  to  any 
great  affection  for  her  themselves,  yet  thought  it 


FASHIONABLE   DISSIPATION.  123 

possible  she  might  make  a  good  wife  ;  and  anxious  to 
have  her  "  settled  in  life,"  did  not  throw  any  obsta 
cles  in  her  way.  They  spoke  of  her  kindly  in  Len- 
nard's  presence,  and  treated  her  with  more  than  usual 
attention. 

The  distance  between  Rosa  Lee's  artless  and  pure 
heart  and  Evelyn  Hubbard's  designing  mind  was  too 
great  for  Lennard  to  measure.  It  may  have  been  the 
simplicity  of  the  first  which  rendered  him  unsuspect 
ing  of  the  last.  The  feeling  of  repulsion  he  had  first 
experienced  in  Evelyn's  society  wore  rapidly  away, 
and  was  succeded  by  an  attraction  which  he  explain 
ed  to  himself  as  the  necessity  he  felt  for  the  sympathy 
of  a  friend. 

The  summer  brightened  before  him.  He  had  no 

correspondent  at  C except  his  uncle,  for  Rosa 

had  declined  writing  to  him,  under  the  pretence  that 
she  was  too  feeble  for  the  effort  of  writing  in  her  one 
wearisome  position,  and  he  had  not  solicited  Marga 
ret  to  write  for  her.  The  letters  he  received  being 
of  a  brief  and  business  like  character,  they  did  not 
retard  his  effort  to  forget  his  former  friends.  He  was 
glad  to  learn  that  Miss  Hubbard  did  not  intend  to 
spend  the  season  out  of  the  city,  because  he  was  pre 
vented  from  doing  so,  and  he  should  feel  at  a  loss 
without  her  society. 


124  FASHIONABLE   DISSIPATION. 

While  he  was  still  very  doubtful  of  the  nature  of 
Ins  feeling  for  her,  and  comparing  it  with  the  love  he 
had  once  cherished  for  a  fairer  being,  a  love  did 
spring  up  in  him,  which  he  found  himself  each  day 
less  able  to  combat — a  wild,  fierce  and  wasting  love, 
a  passion  against  which  he  had  struggled  successfully 
when  the  peace  and  purity  of  his  associations  had 
given  him  a  strength  which  he  did  not  now  posess. 
He  was  now  among  people  who  thought  the  idea  of 
temperance  a  fanatical  one,  who  would  have  been  at 
a  loss  to  complete  their  dinner  without  wine,  and  in 
hospitable  not  to  offer  it  to  their  guests  upon  every 
desirable  occasion. 

Mr.  Hubbard  was  a  man  who  liked  a  glass  of  bran 
dy  and  water  after  his  dinner,  and  who  sometimes 
concocted  drinks  almost  as  strong  before  he  retired 
for  the  night.  These  influences  soon  became  irresis 
tible.  His  guest  went  on  and  on  in  this  dangerous 
way,  encouraged  by  those  who,  at  his  first  coming 
among  them,  had  rallied  him  on  his  abstemious  habits. 
He  was  ready  to  linger  as  long  as  his  host  over  the 
desert ;  and  if  he  did  not  join  him  in  his  evening 
glass,  it  was  because  he  was  lingering  in  yet  more 
fatal  places,  where  youth,  a  convivial  crowd,  the 
solicitations  of  companions,  and  the  thoughtless 
mirth  of  the  many  allured  him  on. 


FASHIONABLE   DISSIPATION.  125 

His  uncle  had  not  bettered  matters  in  sending  him 
from  the  restraints  of  home  into  the  fascinations  of 
city  life.  The  circles  into  which  he  was  at  first  wel 
comed,  were  not  the  only  ones  he  now  made  merry 
by  his  presence.  A  number  of  young  men,  who  had 
nothing  to  recommend  themselves  to  him  but  a  greater 
degree  of  wrecklessness  and  a  more  thorough  initia 
tion  into  fashionable  vices,  followed  him  with  a  perse 
vering  determination  to  attach  him  to  their  number. 
He  was  often  ashamed  to  acknowledge  the  salutations 
of  these  friends  when  walking  with  ladies,  or  with 
Mr.  Hubbard,  who  was  as  strictly  aristocratic  in  hia 
associations  as  he  was  in  his  faults. 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

AT  the  close  of  a  warm  day  in  June,  a  travelling 
carriage  drove  up  the  avenue  at  Maple  Grove.  It 
seemed  to  be  expected,  for  Mr.  Lee,  Margaret,  Lily, 
the  servants,  all  crowded  around  at  the  sound — all 
but  poor  Rosa — to  welcome  home  Frederick  and  his 
bride.  What  a  burst  of  joyous  welcome  arose ! 

After  the  young  husband  had  handed  his  wife  out 
of  the  carriage,  he  abandoned  her  to  the  first  that 
might  greet  her,  and  rushed  about  in  his  old  style, 
kissed  his  father  on  the  nose,  squeezed  the  breath 
fairly  out  of  little  Lily,  hugged  Bridget,  laughed 
and  blushed  as  he  received  dear  Maggie's  kiss,  and 
then  away !  He  had  vanished  before  Blanche  had 
been  released  from  her  new  father's  kindly  embrace. 
Where  was  he  ?  ah,  they  knew  f  he  had  gone  to  Rosa, 
lying  there  on  her  bed,  waiting  patiently.  Margaret 
and  Blanche,  and  the  rest,  soon  followed,  and  found 
them  both  in  tears,  but  smiling,  and  looking  very 
happy.  The  excitement  of  the  occasion  had  called 
126 


FASHIONABLE    DISSIPATION.  127 

up  a  warm  color  in  Rosa's  cheek  and  a  light  to  her 
eyes,  so  that  those  who  had  been  so  long  away  could 
hardly  realize  that  she  was  indeed  a  hopeless  invalid. 
Lily  had  made  a  light  wreath  of  myrtle  and  rose 
buds,  and  twined  amid  the  golden  locks  floating  out 
on  the  pillow ;  and  the  etherializing  effect  of  her 
long  trials  had  been  to  give  her  the  expression  we 
imagine  in  angels. 

"  How  like  a  beautiful  saint  or  spirit  she  is  !" 
whispered  Blanche  to  her  husband.  "If  Pierre 
should  see  her  now  !" 

Pierre  did  see  her.  He  had  been  in  a  second 
conveyance,  with  his  valet,  and  his  sister's  favorite 
Coral,  being  content  to  ride  alone  one  day,  that  being 
the  only  time  they  had  employed  a  private  conveyance, 
and  had  arrived  a  few  moments  later,  unseen  by  any 
but  Jupiter,  who  directed  him  to  go  up  stairs.  He 
had  stolen  in  silently  and  stood  behind  the  group, 
who  were  talking  so  busily,  his  whole  soul  absorbed 
in  a  rapt  gaze  at  Rosa.  She  was  the  first  who  per 
ceived  him ;  and  as  she  held  out  her  hand  with  a 
smile  of  welcome,  the  impulsive  Southerner,  as  he 
kissed  it,  came  near  going  down  on  his  knees,  as  he 
would  have  done  to  an  adored  saint. 

"  I  think  I  shall  be  very  happy  now,  surrounded 
by  so  many  friends,  and  all  so  devoted  to  my  com- 


128  FASHIONABLE   DISSIPATION. 

fort,"  said  Rosa,  looking  affectionately  around  upon 
them  all ;  even  then,  though,  came  the  thought  of 
the  one  she  had  most  trusted,  who  had  soonest  de 
serted  her  ;  and  a  momentary  cloud  passed  over  her 
bright  face. 

When  they  all  went  down  to  tea,  and  she  could 
not  go  with  them,  again  she  felt  that  her  lot  was 
lonely  and  hard  to  bear.  They  gave  her  not  much 
time  for  gloomy  feelings,  ere  they  were  all  back  in 
her  chamber.  Blanche  had  resolutely  refused  the 
pleadings  of  Lily  to  tell  her  about  the  wedding,  the 
journey,  or  any  other  item  of  interest,  until  it  could 
first  be  told  in  Rosa's  hearing.  So  while  the  invalid 
sipped  her  tea  and  nibbled  at  the  dainty  food  before 
her,  with  but  faint  appetite,  the  bride  sat  at  the  foot 
of  the  bed,  more  beautiful  than  ever,  telling  with 
charming  diffidence  the  story  of  Frederick's  arrival 
and  Pierre's  recovery  ;  and  how  he  (Pierre)  insisted 
so  earnestly  upon  her  marriage,  that  she  had  no  further 
excuse  to  offer  for  its  delay  ;  and  how  quietly,  in  the 
presence  of  a  friend  or  two  from  a  neighboring  plan 
tation,  amid  the  weeping  and  rejoicing  of  her  ser 
vants,  they  were  wedded  one  fine  morning,  just  a 
fortnight  ago,  and  started  immediately  for  the  north. 
All  the  time,  the  tenderness  which  moistened  her 
brilliant  eyes  told  more  than  her  eloquent  lips. 


FASHIONABLE  DISSIPATION.  129 

Lily  was  eager  to  learn  if  she  had  been  married  in 
a  real  bridal  dress,  and  veil,  or  in  her  travelling  at 
tire  ;  and  was  delighted  when  assured  that  a  robe  of 
costly  white  adorned  with  lace,  which  cost  a  small 
fortune,  with  a  magnificent  veil  which  swept  to  her 
feet  in  folds  of  misty  richness,  was  prepared  and 
worn,  not  because  it  was  expected  that  it  would  be 
admired  of  a  crowd,  when  no  crowd  was  permitted  to 
admire,  but  because  of  the  beauty  and  purity  of  this 
time-honored  and  emblematic  costume. 

Here  Frederick  had  a  word  to  add,  wishing  that 
his  family  could  have  seen  his  Blanche  in  that  dress  ; 
going  off  into  a  flourishing  panegyric  of  those  "  pur 
ple  locks,  dark  eyes  and  glowing  cheeks,  shining 
under  the  mist  of  that  flowing  veil ;  and  how,  when 
she  stole  upon  his  expectant  sight,  in  that  floating 
robe  of  airy  white,  so  pale,  so  pure,  he  began  to  fear 
she  had  been  getting  ready  for  the  skies,  instead  of 
for  his  unworthy  self  ;  how  he  cast  an  appealing  look 
upon  the  clergyman,  to  detain  her  if  possible,  by 
linking  her  to  him  immediately  in  ( silken  fetters.' 

But  the  bride  pleaded  so  earnestly  to  be  spared 
any  more  of  his  eloquence,  and  the  listeners  laughed 
so  gaily  at  his  extravagance,  that  he  was  not  per 
mitted  to  finish  hi-s  encomiums.  Every  incident  of 
their  meeting,  wedding,  and  journey,  down  to  the 


130  FASHIONABLE    DISSIPATION. 

loss  of  a  carpet-bag,  was  listened  to  with  interest. 
Pierre  threw  a  sparkle  upon  the  swift  tide  of  conver 
sation  occasionally,  but  he  was  too  deeply  and  sadly 
happy  in  being  again  so  near  to  the  object  of  his  love, 
to  care  to  trouble  himself  with  words.  Rapidly  the 
evening  glided  away ;  twelve  o'clock  found  them  re 
luctant  to  part ;  and  Lily,  with  her  eyes  open  to  their 
fullest  brightness,  listening  to  the  talk  as  eagerly  as 
if  it  were  all  a  "  Fairy  tale" — an  "  Enchanted  night's 
entertainment"  it  had  been  to  her,  and  it  was  with 
a  sigh  she  consented  to  go  to  bed. 

The  burden  of  pain  which  Rosa  Lee  had  to  bear 
was  indeed  lightened  to  her  as  much  as  human  love 
could  lighten  it,  aided  by  a  confidence  in  her  Hea 
venly  Father's  goodness,  and  submission  to  His  will. 
Scarcely  a  moment  of  her  waking  hours  was  she  left 
alone.  Her  chamber  was  a  place  where  all  who 
loved  her  delighted  to  be — a  charmed  room,  whose 
precincts  contained  choice  gifts,  rare  flowers,  good 
books,  and  always  some  kind  face — where  no  harsh 
word  was  ever  spoken — where  the  golden  rule  of 
Jove  and  charity  seemed  for  the  time  to  be  obeyed  by 
all  who  entered  in.  The  Lee  family,  although  there 
were  many  anxious  to  honor  the  newly  married  pair 
by  all  kinds  of  polite  attentions,  had  it  understood 
that  Rosa's  illness  would  prevent  their  going  out 


FASHIONABLE   DISSIPATION.  131 

often.  This  was  no  sacrifice  to  them,  for  Maple 
Grove  contained  within  itself  the  elements  of  happi 
ness  j  of  happiness  too  sweet  to  be  disturbed  by  in 
trusions  from  the  outer  world. 

They  saw  their  friends  at  home  ;  those  who  had  any 
claims  upon  their  affection  were  admitted  into  Rosa's 
room,  as  if  they  were  compelled  to  pass  an  evening 
or  a  part  of  a  day  in  their  parlors.  The  sick  girl 
had  her  books,  the  dearest  of  all  of  which,  her  Bible, 
was  gradually  becoming,  while  frequent  messages,  or 
the  prattle  of  her  young  sister,  enlivened  the  passing 
time. 

They  did  occasionally  yield  to  her  urgent  solicita 
tions  to  join  some  party  of  pleasure  in  rides,  pic-nics, 
and  other  summer  amusements. 

At  such  times  Pierre  almost  invariably  remained 
behind.  He  seemed  glad  of  an  opportunity  of  exert 
ing  himself  to  please  the  invalid,  when  she  would 
have  to  depend  most  upon  him  for  amusement.  He 
did  indeed  give  her  a  great  deal  of  pleasure.  We 
have  spoken  of  his  sweet  singing ;  so  soft,  so  melting 
so  divine,  just  the  singing  for  a  sick  room,  and  the 
delicate  ear  of  an  invalid.  Hour  -  after  hour  the 
tinkle  of  his  guitar  blended  with  his  plaintive  voice 
in  telling  a  story  of  passion  and  fidelity  which  he  did 
not  care  to  speak  in  any  less  soothing  way.  Rosa 


132  FASHIONABLE   DISSIPATION. 

would  often  exert  herself  to  sing  with  him,  and  at 
his  suggestion,  very  much  to  her  own  delight,  found 
that  being  propped  up  a  little  more  by  pillows,  she 
could  hold  the  guitar  without  it  wearying  her.  From 
that  time  she  took  daily  lessons  from  a  teacher  only 
too  glad  to  be  her  instructor ;  her  piano  was  no  long 
er  so  much  regretted,  and  she  improved  as  rapidly  in 
this  new  accomplishment,  as  those  do  whose  hearts 
are  so  much  interested  in  what  they  learn.  Her 
father  obtained  a  beautiful  guitar  for  her,  so  that  she 
and  her  teacher  gave  concerts  as  they  laughingly 
called  them,  every  evening,  to  all  the  inmates  of  the 
house  who  chose  to  listen. 

It  was  reserved  for  Pierre  as  some  compensation 
for  his  devotion,  to  effect  a  yet  greater  wonder  and 
delight  than  the  teaching  of  Rosa  to  play  upon  the 
guitar.  Although  slight  and  delicate  himself,  and 
the  current  of  life  seeming  to  flow  indolently  through 
his  frame,  he  had  always  possessed  a  singular  power 
of  magnetising  those  upon  whom  he  was  pleased  to 
exercise  this  influence.  He  had  long  entertained  a 
conviction,  that  if  Rosa  would  allow  him  to  place  her 
in  this  magnetic  state  an  hour  or  two  every  day,  that 
her  health  would  be  greatly  benefit-ted.  So  anxious 
was  he  to  try  the  experiment,  that  he  confided  to  his 
sister  his  impressions,  aud  begged  her  to  obtain  the 


FASHIONABLE   DISSIPATION.  133 

desired  consent.  No  one  objected,  though  they 
would  have  smiled  at  his  enthusiasm,  if  he  himself 
had  not  impressed  them  with  some  of  his  own  faith. 

He  tried  this  power  with  the  most  gratifying  re 
sults.  He  could  throw  the  patient  into  a  profound 
sleep,  in  which  she  ceased  to  feel  that  continual, 
racking  pain,  which  had  disturbed  even  the  short 
slumbers  that  she  usually  obtained. 

The  two  or  three  hours  of  sleep  which  he  first  al 
lowed  her,  were  prolonged  soon  to  several  more  • 
and  the  relief  thus  had  from  suffering,  with  the  ad 
ditional  vitality  imparted  to  her  out  of  his  own 
strength,  made  life  much  more  endurable  to  her. 
Her  appetite  increased,  there  was  color  in  her  cheeks, 
and  from  gaining  strength  to  resist  it,  the  pain  she 
suffered  gradually  decreased.  Her  friends  knew  not 
how  to  be  joyful  enough  over  this  improvement  j  but 
it  did  not  satisfy  Pierre,  who  consulted  with  her 
physician,  and  they  agreed  together,  to  try  the  effect 
of  an  electric  shock  upon  the  side  and  limb  which 
were  so  severely  injured.  They  communicated  their 
plan  to  the  family,  who  hoped  and  yet  dared  not  hope 
for  its  success  ;  but  awaited  with  trembling  the  first 
trial.  After  a  week  of  daily  experiment,  Rosa  could 
turn  upon  her  side  and  find  some  relief  from  the  tor 
ture  of  one  position  ;  in  a  mouth  she  was  placed  in 


134  FASHIONABLE   DISSIPATION. 

an  easy  chair  constructed  for  her,  in  which  she  could 
recline,  and  be  rocked  gently  to  and  fro.  The  phy 
sician  now  gave  it  as  his  opinion,  that  by  winter  she 
might  be  able  to  walk  a  little,  by  the  aid  of  a  crutch, 
but  she  would  always  be  a  cripple.  What  did  Rosa 
care  for  that  now  ?  She  had  resigned  herself  to  a 
fate  so  much  worse,  that  to  be  a  cripple,  to  move 
around  upon  crutches  painfully,  seemed  but  small  in 
comparison.  She  could  get  out  of  that  room ! — she 
could  go  out  upon  the  piazza  and  see  the  roses  grow 
ing,  blooming,  dying,  the  clouds  speeding  over  the 
sky,  and  feel  the  fresh  air  upon  her  face — she  could, 
perhaps,  hobble  out  upon  the  lawn,  and  stand  beneath 
the  maple  trees  again — she  could  get  about  the  house, 
slowly  to  be  sure,  and  watch  Bridget  making  bread 
in  the  cook  room,  and  Towser  frolicking  in  and  out 
— the  homely  pleasures,  the  beautiful  blessings  she 
had  been  denied,  she  was  to  have  in  a  measure  again  ! 
—oh  !  she  did  not  care  for  the  lameness !  if  she  was 
ever  to  be  out  of  that  room ! 

"  Oh,  should  she  ever  be  going 

.Forth  any  more — 

Forth,  where  the  green  woods  were  blowing 
Close  by  the  door?" 

She   sobbed    at    the    very   thought.     Even  Pierre 
who  seemed  to  divine  almost  her  soul's  secret  mus- 


FASHIONABLE   DISSIPATION  135 

ings,  was  surprised  at  the  agony  of  joy  she  showed, 
so  patient  and  uncomplaining  had  she  been,  while  her 
case  was  considered  hopeless. 

All  other  interests  were  now  absorbed  in  the  great 
one  of  watching  her  daily  improvement.  The  house 
seemed  like  another  dwelling.  Margaret  went  carol 
ing  about  like  a  bird  ;  Mr.  Lee  walked  more  lightly 
than  he  had  done  for  years  ;  bursts  of  laughter  came 
up  out  of  the  lower  regions  where  the  servants  were 
congregated  ;  Fred  tried  in  vain  to  moderate  his 
spirits.  Pierre  changed  more  than  all,  except  the 
invalid  herself.  All  that  was  morose  and  fiery  in  hia 
nature  was  subdued  ;  he  touched  not  the  wine-cup  ; 
serene  and  quiet  he  lingered  about,  speaking  sweetly 
to  all,  anxious  to  be  kind  to  all,  diffusing  a  look  of 
contentment  wherever  he  went.  His  praises,  as 
harped  upon  constantly  by  Coral  and  (  Chesterfield,' 
— as  the  young  men  dubbed  his  dandified  valet — in 
the  kitchen,  were  not  needed  to  make  him  beloved  by 
the  humbler  members  of  the  household. 

It  may  be  that  Pierre,  unselfish  in  his  love  aud 
adoring  Rosa  with  all  that  intensity  of  soul  which 
made  him  both  so  fascinating  and  as  repelling,  began 
to  have  a  hope  that  she  would  permit  him  always  to 
remain  by  her  side,  doing  all  that  a  faithful  friend 
might  do  to  brighten  her  clouded  hours. 


136  FASHIONABLE    DISSIPATION. 

.  If  he  had  such  a  hope  it  was  without  encourage 
ment  from  her.  She  mourned  over  Lennard's  rapid 
desertion,  and  thought  with  a  feeling  of  wounded 
pride,  that  he  might  have  been  less  hasty  in  convin 
cing  her  of  the  selfishness  of  his  affection,  but  she 
loved  him  yet,  and  grieved  for  him.  Pierre  had  not 
conquered  love :  she  made  excuses  for  him  in  her 
heart ;  if  any  one  had  told  her  that  he  was  coming 
back,  that  she  was  to  get  entirely  well,  and  he  was 
to  atone  for  the  past  by  redoubled  attention,  she 
would  have  felt  that  she  could  not  have  trusted  him 
enough  to  make  him  her  husband.  She  would  never 
love  any  one  else,  however,  and  she  regretted  that 
Pierre  should  waste  his  time  and  feelings  upon  her, 
when,  even  were  she  well,  she  could  not  reward  them 
as  they  deserved. 

Even  more  rapidly  than  they  had  allowed  them 
selves  to  hope,  Rosa  improved.  She  sat  up  several 
hours  each  day  in  her  easy  chair,  and  being  encouraged 
to  the  effort  by  her  doctor,  she  one  day  bore  her  weight 
upon  her  feet.  The  thing  next  attempted  was  to  step, 
and  after  two  or  three  trials,  she  succeded  :  proceeding 
steadily  to  get  well,  she  soon  could  cross  the  floor 
with  a  crutch  and  the  arm  of  a  friend.  She  was 
lame — miserably  lame — and  it  appeared  impossible 
that  she  should  ever  be  less  so — but  when  they  car- 


FASHIONABLE   DISSIPATION.  137 

ried  her  down  stairs  and  she  passed  from  room  to 
room,  slowly,  until  exhausted,  she  was  laid  upon 
the  sofa,  and  permitted  to  rest  there  an  hour  or  so, 
her  gratitude  was  inexpressible. 

They  opened  the  hall  door,  as  they  bore  her  back 
to  her  chamber,  and  stood  with  her  a  few  moments 
upon  the  piazza.  It  was  just  a  year  since  she  had  met 
with  her  fearful  accident.  The  frost  was  beginning 
to  paint  the  maple  leaves  in  gorgeous  colors,  the  air 
was  bland  and  moist,  the  sky  a  deep  blue,  purple 
upon  its  borders,  the  day,  the  loveliest  in  Autumn. 
Tears,  fast  and  many,  rolled  down  her  cheeks  as  she 
gazed.  A  year  since  she  had  been  borne  over  that 
portico !  A  year  so  long,  so  dark,  and  painful,  that 
it  seemed  more  than  equal  to  all  the  rest  of  her  life 
"When  they  laid  her  upon  her  bed  in  her  own  chamber, 
her  strength  was  all  gone.  Pierre  placed  her  in  a  deep 
magnetic  sleep,  and  then  Mr.  Lee  in  a  voice  tremu 
lous  with  emotion,  opened  the  Bible  and  read  a 
Psalm  of  thanksgiving,  then  sank  upon  his  knees, 
offering  up  so  earnest  a  prayer  of  gratitude,  that  even 
Frederick  wept  aloud. 

During  these  prosperous  days  at  Maple  Grove, 
Lennard  was  yielding  to  the  force  of  temptation  and 
circumstance,  and  becoming  rapidly  more  dissatisfied 

with  himself. 

12* 


138  FASHIONABLE   DISSIPATION. 

u  Why  should  I  try  to  resist  a  passion  which  is  as 
strong  upon  me  as  life  itself  ?  I  have  fought  with  it 
long  enough!  Other  men  do  as  lam  doing,  and  live  to 
a  good  old  age,  respectable,  and  sufficiently  contented 
with  themselves.  Youth  is  the  time  to  be  happy,  and 
if  I  have  been  robbed  of  one  kind  of  happiness,  I  do 
not  see  why  I  should  not  take  up  with  another." 

The  influence  of  a  woman  who  is  beloved  is  some 
times  all-powerful  to  protect  a  man  from  the  sins  of 
the  out-door  world.  Such  had  been  Rosa  Lee's  in 
fluence  ;  but  Evelyn  Hubbard,  although  he  began  to 
persuade  himself  that  he  had  a  great  passion  for  her, 
seemed  not  to  possess  any  such  power. 

She  often  kindled  the  fire  with  her  own  hands  ;  in 
hours  of  peril,  the  memory  of  something  holy  in  her 
look,  something  sacred  in  her  words,  did  not  come  to 
defend  him.  She  was  brilliant,  bewitching,  alluring  ; 
but  the  thought  of  her  was  not  pure  and  elevating. 
Her  enchantments  were  not  without  success — she  had 
her  hour  of  triumph. 

The  day  after  his  engagement  to  Evelyn,  while  the 
sounds  of  her  sweet  confession  of  love  yet  thrilled 
in  his  ear,  Lennard  had  a  letter  from  his  uncle.  He 
read  the  brief  epistle  carelessly,  until  he  came  to  a 
postscript  Mr.  Lennard  had  been  thoughtful  enough 
to  add — 


FASHIONABLE   DISSIPATION.  139 

"  He  had  excellent  news  to  communicate.  Rosa 
Lee  was  almost  well.  She  could  walk,  although  she 
was  very  lame,  and  he  had  heard  she  had  actually 
walked  down  the  avenue  at  Maple  Grove  without  any 
assistance  except  her  crutch.  The  case  was  consid 
ered  a  miracle.  He  had  heard  that  Pierre  G-uyarre 
had  some  credit  of  the  cure.  He  supposed  his  neph 
ew  would  be  for  posting  home,  now,  and  he  need  not 
let  the  business  he  had  in  hand  interfere  with  his 
happiness. 

The  young  man  threw  the  letter  upon  the  floor. 
Old  dreams,  old  hopes,  old  loves,  rushed  back  again  ! 
But  it  was  too  late  !  Rosa  Lee  despised  him  now, 
and  he  was  the  lover  of  another.  Soft  memories 
flooded  his  soul  of  those  past  days 

"  When  his  dream  of  bliss  from  morn  till  night 
Was  Love,  still  Love  1" 

Rosa  Lee's  face,  as  innocent  as  lovely,  rose  up  in 
contrast  with  Miss  Hubbard's,  and  for  a  moment  he 
hated  and  loathed  the  girl  who  had  excited  in  him  a 
few  hours  ago  a  delirium  of  passion.  But  his  first 
love  was  lame — very  lame — and  Evelyn  was  graceful 
and  distinguished,  was  the  cold  idea  which  crowded 
upon  the  others.  One  was  rich — the  other  poor ;  one 
had  reason  to  scorn  him — the  other  worshipped  him  j 


140  FASHIONABLE    DISSIPATION. 

aye,  adored  him  ?  had  he  not  seen  it  in  her  eyes, 
heard  it  from  her  lips  only  the  previous  evening  ? 
But  when,  in  his  long  betrothal  to  Rosa  had  she  ever 
made  such  passionate  avowals  1  And  again  he  hated 
Evelyn.  He  could  not  meet  her  again  that  day,  or 
he  should  show  the  displeasure  in  his  heart. 

So  Evelyn  braided  her  hair,  and  adorned  herself  in 
vain ;  sat  waiting  with  cheeks  and  eyes  aglow  with 
triumph  in  vain ;  pouted  and  speculated  in  vain. 
She  was  obliged  to  retire  anxious  and  disconcerted 
without  receiving  even  a  message  from  him  to  ex 
plain  his  absence.  While  she  waited  for  him,  he 
sought  composure  in  the  wine-cup  ;  after  he  had 
gained  composure,  he  sought  excitement ;  a  night  of 
wretched  dissipation  unfitted  him  for  paying  an  early 
visit  to  his  affianced  ;  and  it  was  not  until  afternoon 
of  the  second  day,  that  her  watching  was  rewarded. 

He  entered  pale  and  somewhat  sullen  into  her 
presence  as  with  downcast  eyes  she  waited  for  him  to 
address  her.  Her  blushing  and  graceful  appearance 
put  his  moody  thoughts  to  flight,  and  when  in  answer 
to  his  greeting,  she  raised  her  eyes,  she  thought  he 
had  been  ill ;  and  the  tenderness,  the  earnestness 
with  which  she  enquired  after  his  health,  and  the 
cause  of  his  delay  in  coming  to  see  her,  soon  placed 
him  again  under  the  spell  of  the  enchantress.  He 


FASHIONABLE    DISSIPATION.  141 

begged  of  her  to  be  gay,  for  business  cares  had  wor 
ried  him.  It  was  not  difficult  for  her  to  obey  him  ; 
the  success  of  her  wishes  had  left  her  light-hearted, 
and  her  feelings  were  not  likely  to  be  so  subduingly 
affected  as  to  prevent  a  mirthful  expression  of  them. 
She  gave  him  an  amusing  account  of  an  awkward 
gentleman  who  had  called  upon  her  that  morning  j 
her  ridicule  of  the  unfortunate  individual  being  so 
delicately  spiced  with  flattery  of  the  listener,  that  he 
thought  her  an  exceedingly  pleasing  woman. 

He  did  not  tell  IJvelyn  that  evening  of  the  partial 
recovery  of  the  young  girl  he  had  once  been  so  much 
interested  in.  But  it  was  not  long  before  she  heard 
an  account  of  it,  which  from  that  time  rendered  her 
uneasy ;  she  was  afraid  of  losing  her  prize,  and  would 
have  set  ever  so  early  a  day  for  the  wedding,  had  she 
been  asked  to  do  so  by  her  lover.  If  he  appeared 
sad  or  lost  in  thought,  she  was  wretched ;  if  any 
business  or  dissipation  kept  him  away  from  her  long, 
she  was  startled  with  the  fear  that  he  had  left  her. 
She  had  no  reason  to  place  unshaken  confidence  in  his 
protestations,  when  she  accepted  them  knowing  that 
it  was  but  a  brief  time  since  those  as  warm  had  been 
whispered  in  the  ear  of  another  and  more  beautiful 
girl. 


142  FASHIONABLE   DISSIPATION. 

Leonard's  reputation  as  a  man  of  the  highest  char 
acter,  which  he  bore  when  he  first  went  to  the  city, 
had  gradually  changed  ;  until  Evelyn  was  forced  to 
see  that  she  was  engaged  to  a  man  whose  habits 
ought  to  render  him  displeasing  to  any  lady  who  was 
very  self-respecting.  She  was  ready,  howe^fer,  to 
pardon  everything  for  the  sake  of  the  wealth  and  po 
sition  to  be  gained ;  and  possibly  thought  it  even 
more  distinguished  to  become  the  wife  of  a  fashion 
able  roue,  than  of  a  modest  and  dignified  gentle 
man. 

(Why  is  it  that  mothers  are  so  ready  to  yield  the 
hands  of  their  daughters  to  those  elegant  bacchanals, 
and  that  young  girls,  themselves  pure  and  refined, 
have  no  hesitation  in  trusting  their  life-long  happi 
ness  in  their  keeping  ?  Is  it  because  they  are  actu 
ated  by  a  noble  ambition  to  reform  them,  and  have 
faith  that  their  love  has  power  to  do  it  ?) 

As  the  autumn  deepened  into  winter,  and  the 
fashionable  world  was  all  afloat  on  the  tide  of  gayety, 
they  had  neither  of  them  much  time  for  grave  reflec 
tion.  They  were  engaged  in  an  endless  round  of 
pleasure.  Miss  Hubbard  was  fond  of  shining  in  a 
crowd,  and  now  that  the  rumor  of  her  engagement 
with  the  admired  Mr.  Lennard,  gave  her  more  eclat 
than  she  had  before  enjoyed,  she  was  at  the  height 


FASHIONABLE   DISSIPATION.  143 

of  what  she  esteemed  happiness.  Late  hours,  sup 
pers  and  wines,  and  waltzes,  which  she  shared  with 
him,  and  never  disapproved  of,  were  as  good  as  a  slow 
poison  acting  upon  the  mental,  moral  and  physical 
constitution  of  Charles  Lennard. 


CHAPTER  IX. 

«  OH  !  how  beautiful !  how  like  a  fairy-land  I 
wonder  you  could  ever  have  thought  Maple  Grove 
lovely,  after  all  your  life  dwelling  in  a  place  like 
this !  It  is  a  fit  home — it  is  like  its  mistress — you 
seem  made  for  it,  and  it  for  you !" 

Blanche  laughed  at  this  lavish  praise,  and  laughed 
again  with  pleasure  to  see  the  glow  upon  Rosa's 
cheek,  and  the  fervor  with  which  she  clapped  her 
small,  pale  hands  together. 

Frederick  too,  and  Pierre,  looked  on  delighted. 
The  scene  was  familiar  to  them,  and  they  were  less 
attracted  by  it  than  anxious  to  watch  its  effect  upon 
their  beloved  invalid. 

It  was  the  contrast  between  the  season  here  and 
that  in  the  State  she  had  left,  which  enhanced  the 
beautiful  effect  of  that  always  beautiful  spot  upon 
Rosa's  mind.  Summer,  or  rather  the  first  gorgeous- 
ness  of  Autumn,  dwelt  there  in  that  October  mouth. 
The  brilliant  sky  and  brilliant  flowers,  the  balmy  air, 

144 


FASHIONABLE   DISSIPATION.  115 

the  river  shining  blue  in  the  distance,  lay  like  en 
chantment  over  and  around  the  home  of  the  Gruy- 
arres.  Magnolia- Vale  had  on  its  most  magnificent 
aspect.  The  house,  although  built  in  that  airy  and 
low  style  appropriate  in  a  southern  climate,  had  not 
the  rambling  and  unfinished  look  so  common.  It 
was  of  grey  marble,  and  its  light  columns  and  por 
ticos,  and  graceful  wings  and  Venetian  windows  over 
run  with  roses  and  scarlet-creepers,  gave  it  the  almost 
fanciful  look  we  dream  of  when  reading  of  the  Moor 
ish  palaces.  Long  avenues  of  lime-trees,  delicious 
fountains,  some  modest  statues  peering  out  of  leafy 
glooms,  gardens  of  flowers,  gardens  of  grapes  and 
orange  trees,  and  clusters  of  lemon  trees  with  their 
dark  glossy  leaves  shining  out  from  more  gay  foliage, 
added  all  that  art  could  do,  to  complete  the  paradise 
which  nature  had  first  planned. 

"  You  will  get  well  here — entirely  well !  I  feel — 
I  know  you  will" — murmured  Pierre,  pressing  Rosa's 
hand,  then  he  with  her- brother  lifted  her  gently  from 
the  large  carriage  and  supported  her  through  the 
avenue,  to  the  sofa  in  the  hall,  where  she  could  still 
look  out  upon  the  pleasant  view. 

At  the  urgent  entreaty  of  the  Guyarres,  and  the 
concurrent  advice  of  her  physician,  the  Lees  had 
made  up  their  minds  to  part  with  Rosa  for  the  winter, 

13 


H6  s  FASHIONABLE   DISSIPATION. 

and  allow  her  to  go  with  her  friends  to  a  milder  cli 
mate.  They  had  guarded  her  so  carefully  from  all 
discomfort  and  fatigue  upon  her  journey,  travelling 
only  when  the  weather  was  the  most  pleasant,  and 
going  to  every  trouble  to  procure  easy  conveyances, 
that  now,  when  she  found  herself  upon  the  sofa,  safe 
at  Magnolia- Vale,  she  thought  that  she  already  felt 
stronger  than  when  she  left  home. 

"  Come,  darling,  to  your  room,  I  wish  you  first  to 
tell  me  how  you  like  it,  and  then  you  must  rest," 
said  Blanche,  who  had  been  to  receive  the  eager  wel 
come  of  her  servants,  and  now  hastened  back  to  her 
guest.  "  My  warmest  desire  is  to  render  you  con 
tented  and  comfortable,"  she  continued  as  the  lame 
girl  leaned  upon  her  arm,  and  they  walked  slowly 
down  the  hall.  "  So,  if  anything  should  not  please 
you,  it  will  delight  me  to  have  it  altered  to  your 
liking." 

"  You  are  kind,  Blanche,  too  kind  !  Ah,  what  a 
charming  room  for  an  invalid  like  me.  My  friends  do 
too  much  to  make  me  happy — I  do  not  deserve  such 
devoted  attention." 

The  apartment  which  they  entered  was  a  large 
room  off  the  hall,  convenient  to  the  dining-room  and 
reception-parlors,  yet  quiet  enough  for  the  sensitive 
nerves  of  sickness.  All  elegancies  and  comforts  were 


FASHIONABLE   DISSIPATION.  147 

congregated  within  it ;  but  its  chief  beauty  was  the 
prospect  from  the  three  windows  opening  down  to 
the  floor  and  out  upon  a  light  balcony,  where  birds 
were  carolling,  and  around  which  flowers  were  bloom 
ing,  which  Rosa  had  never  before  seen  outside  of  a 
hot-house.  From  two  of  the  windows  could  be  seen 
the  river  rolling  majestically  on  through  a  lovely 
country ;  the  other  looked  out  upon  a  wilderness 
of  bloom — golden  fruit  swinging  in  and  out  of  leafy 
coverts,  purple  grasses,  rich  roses,  a  low  forest  of 
magnolias  which  gave  the  place  its  name.  This 
apartment  had  always  been  Blanche's  favorite,  but  she 
had  ordered  it  arranged  for  Rosa.  She  felt  all  the 
ambition  of  a  young  matron,  in  returning  the  hospi 
talities  which  had  been  so  gracefully  extended  to  her 
at  the  north. 

"  I  do  not  hope  to  do  as  much  to  render  you  wel 
come,  as  I  had  done  for  me,"  said  she,  when  Rosa 
had  admired  with  something  of  her  old  gayety  and 
enthusiasm,  the  arrangements  for  her  welfare.  "  At 
least  with  such  happy  and  important  results." 

"  No,"  said  her  companion  with  a  smile,  "  I  do 
not  think  that  you  will  find  for  me  a  lover  and  hus 
band,"  she  had  taught  herself  to  think  of  her  past 
disappointment  and  future  loneliness  with  a  cheerful 
face. 


148  FASHIONABLE  DISSIPATION. 

"  And  still — are  you  not  a  little  ungrateful — are 
you  not  hard  hearted,  Rosa,  dear  "?"  continued  the 
young  wife  with  some  hesitation,  but  earnestly,  and 
looking  into  her  friend's  eyes,  "  I  do  so  grieve  over 
Pierre's  despair — and  he  has  been  so  faithful — his 
love  at  least  has  proved  itself  to  be  real." 

"  Don't  speak  of  it,"  cried  Rosa  hastily,  "  I  know 
it — I  feel  it  all !  he  is  worthy  of  more  than  a  divided 
heart,"  and  her  tears  began  to  fall.  "  And  I — so  ill, 
so  wretchedly  lame  ! — he  should  not  sacrifice  himself 
to  me,  even  did  I  love  him." 

"  If  you  loved  him,  you  would  consult  his  feelings 
as  regards  that,"  was  the  somewhat  sad  answer. 
"  But  I  will  not  distress  you  with  any  further  talk  on 
that  subject,  only  you  know  how  dear  Pierre  is  to  me, 
and  how  his  troubles  trouble  me.  I  think  that  he 
would  be  satisfied  with  only  knowing  that  you  had 
forgotten  somebody  else.  How  is  this  lounge  ? — is 
it  perfectly  comfortable  for  your  poor  side  ? — if  it  is 
not,  I  shall  have  one  made  that  will  be  more  so." 

"  It  is  the  best  lounge  in  the  world,  Blanche !  It 
makes  me  sleepy  to  touch  it." 

"  Go  to  sleep  then,  and  refresh  yourself."  With  a 
kiss  the  young  wife  left  her  visiter  to  repose. 

"  How  do  you  like  this  little  world  of  yours  V  was 
Blanche's  next  words,  as  she  stole  to  the  side  of  her 


FASHIONABLE   DISSIPATION.  149 

husband,  who  stood  on  a  verandah,  looking  off  upon 
the  scenery, 

"  Of  mine  ?  how  I  shall  grow  selfish  in  learning  to 
think  this  all  mine.  It's  a  beautiful  bit  of  property 
for  a  man  to  call  his  own,  ain't  it,  sweet  wife  ?" — his 
arms  were  around  her  ;  and  as  he  was  looking  straight 
at  her,  instead  of  the  surrounding  scene,  Blanche 
Guyarre  Lee  blushed  her  reply. 

"  Where  is  that  wonderful  spring  that  is  to  do 
much  towards  restoring  our  sister  ?"  he  asked  after  a 
while.  "  Is  it  on  your  plantation  ?" 

"  Yes !  down  there  beyond  those  orange  trees. 
Do  you  see  a  little  white  temple  overrun  with  moss  ^ 
That  is  the  bath  house  built  over  the  spring ;  and  we 
will  have  a  chair  upon  wheels  constructed,  so  that 
our  darling  will  not  have  to  walk.  That  spring 
really  has  wonderful  healing  powers  :  we  might  make 
our  fortunes  out  of  it,  if  they  were  not  already  made. 
It  will  be  a  good  enough  fortune  for  us  if  it  restores 
Rosa,  which  I  have  the  strongest  hopes  it  will  do." 

"I  dare  not  hope  it,  Blanche,  but  oh!  if  it 
should !" 

The  very  next  day  the  trial  ^as  commenced  which 
was  to  test  the  virtues  of  the  water. — Four  or  five 
times  a  day  she  took  a  douch-bath,  and  was  then 
drawn  back  to  the  house  in  her  chair.  The  bath 

13* 


150  FASHIONABLE  DISSIPATION 

not  only  invigorated  her  body,  but  the  beautiful 
scene  through  which  she  passed  to  and  fro,  the  balmy 
air  and  bright  sky  acted  like  magic  upon  her  spirits. 
Her  musical  laugh  which  used  to  be  so  pleasant  a 
sound  to  all  her  friends,  again  rung  out  with  its  old 
happy  note,  provoking  the  mocking-birds  amid  the 
orange-trees  to  answer  its  silver  call.  She  could 
not  dart  like  a  butterfly  hither  and  thither  after  the 
birds  and  blossoms,  or  in  chase  of  Frederick,  as  she 
used  to  do,  but  her  cheek  was  growing  round  and 
roseate,  and  the  wan  look  fading  from  her  eyes. 

If  Pierre's  devotion  could  not  touch  the  young 
girl's  heart,  he  was  at  least  to  be  prospered  in  all  the 
means  he  proposed  for  benefiting  her  health.  It  was 
he  who  first  suggested  the  southern  journey  and  the 
baths.  It  was  he  who,  now,  as  the  rainy  weather 
came  on,  had  the  long  walk  to  the  spring  covered 
with  a  temporary  roof,  so  that  the  out-door  exercise 
and  the  douch  need  not  be  neglected.  It  was  he  who, 
when  the  invalid  wearied  herself  with  too  much  exer 
tion,  magnatized  her  into  a  gentle  sleep.  He  was 
himself  so  sensitively  formed,  so  delicate,  that  he 
could  feel  every  change  in  the  organization  of  an 
other,  and  divine  why  they  were  affected  and  what 
would  be  most  soothing. 

"You  must  be  well — you  shall  be  well!"  was  his 


FASHIONABLE   DISSIPATION.  151 

every- day  assurance  spoken  to  the  fair  patient,  who 
grew  to  think  what  he  so  courageously  asserted  must 
be  true,  and  to  look  forward  to  a  time  when  the 
painful  crutch  should  be  thrown  by. 

At  the  end  of  a  couple  of  months,  the  chair  was 
deserted.  With  the  aid  of  Blanche's  or  Frederick's 
arm,  Rosa  could  limp  to  the  spring  and  back  again. 
She  walked  all  that  she  was  able  in  order  to  exercise 
the  injured  limb. 

During  the  wet  weather,  her  improvement  was  not 
rapid  ;  but  with  the  first  breath  of  that  early  southern 
Spring,  it  seemed  as  if  some  magician  had  freed  her 
with  his  spells. 

Every  day  they  could  see  how  much  better  she  got 
— how  much  easier  she  walked — how  much  straighter 
she  could  stand. 

One  morning  she  astonished  them  all  by  limping 
into  breakfast  without  her  crutch. — After  that,  they 
thought  the  work  done. 

They  were  contented  to  thank  God,  and  to  see  her 
steadily  hour  by  hour  recover  the  old  freedom  of  her 
limbs — to  see  the  fair  head  and  shoulders  erect  them 
selves  with  their  own  peculiar  grace,  and  her  little 
feet  measure  their  slow  but  not  awkward  steps  across 
the  floor.  She  still  suffered  pain  in  her  side,  which 
upon  some  days  was  acute ;  but  this  she  did  not 


152  FASHIONABLE   DISSIPATION. 

think  worthy  of  mention  ;  she  had  no  time  for  com 
plaint —  she  was  so  inexpressibly  grateful  and  re 
joiced. 

"  You  must  not  tell  the  dear  ones  at  home  how 
much  better  I  am,"  she  warned  them  all.  "  We 
must  keep  back  a  little  of  the  good  tidings  for  a  sur 
prise  when  we  shall  see  them." 

So  the  letters  home  were  cheerful  and  promising, 
but  they  did  not  tell  how  the  lame  girl  walked  alone, 
going  about  wherever  she  listed,  and  that  her  hateful 
crutch  was  among  the  things  that  once  were  and  now 
are  not. 

"  You  are  as  cruel  as  the  grave,  Rosalie,"  said 
Pierre  one  evening  in  April,  as  he  stood  with  Rosa 
beneath  the  lime-trees.  They  had  been  listening  to 
a  nightingale,  and  looking  at  the  young  moon  whose 
silver  crescent  hung  low  over  the  perfumed  grove  of 
magnolias.  "  Cruel — cruel !  I  have  loved  you  when 
there  was  no  hope — I  have  restored  your  health  and 
beauty — I  have  proved  to  you  that  sickness  and 
deformity  did  not  make  you  less  dear  to  me.  And 
still  you  remember  that  cold,  vain  Northener,  un 
worthy  of  your  lightest  smile.  You  have  no  pride, 
or  you  would  be  glad  to  show  him  that  your  con 
tempt  was  equal  to  his  falsehood." 

"  Do   not    forget  yourself,   Pierre,"   replied   the 


FASHIONABLE   DISSIPATION.  153 

young  girl,  laying  her  hand  upon  his — he  had  been 
growing  very  angry,  but  yielded  at  once  to  the  influ 
ence  of  her  voice  and  touch.  "  I  do  not  think  I  am 
very  proud,  it  is  true.  I  had  rather  be  affectionate 
than  proud.  But  I  have  a  scorn  for  selfishness  and 
baseness.  If  that  will  be  any  consolation  to  you,  I 
am  willing  to  tell  you  that  I  have  not  the  least  little 
spark  of  love  left  for  Charles  Lennard." 

"  Then  why  will  you  not  accept  my  love  ?"  La 
spoke  hastily. 

"  It  is  too  soon,  Pierre  ,  the  old  passion  flower  may 
be  rooted  out,  but  there  is  a  hollow  in  my  heart  now, 
where  nothing  new  will  grow." 

"  And  you  will  not  even  let  me  go  back  with  you  to 
the  North  ?  you  condemn  me  to  a  summer  of  lone 
liness  ?" 

His  tone  was  so  melancholy,  that  Rosa  almost 
faltered  in  her  resolution  ;  his  months  of  unwearied 
devotion,  his  tenderness  and  unspeakable  love,  almost 
caused  her  to  think  for  a  moment  that  the  pity  and 
gratitude  which  thrilled  her  were  emotions  of  answer 
ing  passion. 

There  were  tears  in  her  eyes  as  she  answered 
him — 

"  Do  you  not  think  it  would  be  best  for  you  to 
stay  away,  at  least  a  part  of  the  season.  We  have 


154  FASHIONABLE   DISSIPATION. 

been  in  each  other's  society  so  constantly,  that  per 
haps  I  may  not  be  able  to  do  justice  to  my  own 
regards  for  you." 

"  If  T  thought  that  absence  would  render  m,e  any 
dearer  to  you,  I  would  stay  away  forever." 

Rosa  laughed  at  this  moody  reply  ;  her  laugh  was 
always  sweet  to  Pierre,  even  when  it  mocked  him. 

"You  are  all  going  away  in  the  morning,  leaving 
me  alone  on  this  dreary  plantation,"  he  continued. 
"  I  do  not  think  I  can  live  so  long  ;  I  am  afraid  that 
I  shall  do  something  bad." 

"  No — no — no  !  don't  even  think  of  that,  Pierre  !" 

"But  I  always  am  bad  when  I'm  left  to  my  own 
impulses.  If  it  were  not  for  Blanche  and  you,  I 
should  be  wild  in  a  month.  So  you  see  how  much  is 
in  your  keeping,  Rosa.  It  is  for  you  to  say  whether 
I  shall  yield  to  my  evil  dispositions,  or  whether  I 
shall  remain  this  meek  creature  into  which  you  have 
transformed  me  ?" 

"  I  am  afraid  that  I  am  a  little  cruel  to  you  or  at 
least  ungrateful,"  replied  the  fair  girl,  as  the  possi 
bility  of  his  giving  himself  up  to  despair  suggested 
itself,  "  I  think  that  you  had  better  come  to  us  in 
June,  and  Blanche  and  I  will  be  good  sisters  to 
you." 

With  this  little  encouragement  he  was  obliged  to 


FASHIONABLE   DISSIPATION.  155 

rest  content.  The  next  day  his  friends  were  gone, 
and  he  was  alone  with  the  roses  and  nightingales  in 
his  Paradise. 

Rosa  succeded  to  a  charm  in  her  plan  of  surprising 
her  family.  When  those  dear  ones,  more  welcome 
at  Maple  Grove  than  the  birds  and  breezes  which 
came  every  Spring  from  the  south,  once  more  arrived, 
and  Rosa  appeared  among  them  blooming  and  erect, 
their  wonder  was  only  equalled  by  their  joy.  Rela 
tives  and  friends  hastened  to  welcome  and  congratu 
late  her ;  it  seemed  like  one  long  festival  at  the  old 
family  mansion. 

In  the  midst  of  this  pleasure  and  excitement,  there 
came  word  one  day  to  Rosa,  which  sent  the  blushes 
from  her  cheeks,  and  left  her  white  and  faint.  Charles 

Lennard  and  his  bride  had  arrived  in  C .  The 

shock  was  but  momentary.  By  the  ease  with  which 
Rosa  conquered  her  emotions  she  was  satisfied  that 
she  had  conquered  her  affection. 

"  It  is  like  his  heartless  desertion — this  sudden 
wooing  and  winning  of  another,"  she  thought. 

The  next  day  after  this  news  was  Sabbath.  Rosa 
had  been  home  but  a  few  days,  and  had  not  yet 
attended  church.  That  morning  the  family  were  to 
go,  and  she  with  them.  She  expected  to  see  the 
newly  married  pair  among  the  congregation,  but  her 


156  FASHIONABLE   DISSIPATION. 

heart  was  as  quiet  as  a  star — she  had  no  dread,  no 
shame,  with  regard  to  meeting  them.  Must  we 
blame  our  pretty  Rosa,  if  she  dressed  that  morning 
with  unusual  care  ?  if  she  smiled  back  upon  the 
reflection  of  her  bright,  beautiful  face  in  the  mirror, 
wondering  if  the  bride's  was  as  fair  ?  if  she  wore  the 
very  shade  of  pink  inside  her  bonnet,  which  a  partic 
ular  person  used  especially  to  admire  !  No  !  we  are 
pleased  to  believe  that  Rosa,  though  a  patient  suffer 
er,  an  humble  hearted  Christian,  is  enough  of  a  woman 
to  have  such  thoughts  and  do  such  things,  even 
while  she  was  afraid  that  the  tempter  was  making  her 
a  little  wicked. 

It  was  more  than  many  of  the  frequenters  of  Grace 

Church  in  C could  bear,  without  distracting 

their  minds  from  their  prayer-books,  to  have  Charles 
Lennard  and  his  bride,  and  Rosa  Lee,  all  at  their 
church,  for  the  first  and  at  the  same  time.  First 
came  the  bride,  and  groom,  and  took  their  places  in 
their  uncle's  large  square  pew  ;  and  had  sat  there 
long  enough  for  the  ladies  all  to  declare  silently 
that  the  bride  was  not  handsome — no  !  not  in  the 
least,  and  the  gentlemen  to  decide  that  she  was  inte 
resting  looking,  an  agreeable  woman,  perhaps,  but  a 
poor  exchange  for  Rosa  Lee  !  who  came  in  with  her 
friends  and  walked  up  the  aisle  to  the  large  square 


FASHIONABLE   DISSIPATION.  157 

pew  just  facing  the  Lennard's.  How  beautiful  she 
appeared  that  morning.  Lennard  saw  her  when  she 
first  entered  the  door,  and  could  not  look  away, 
although  he  knew  that  half  the  people  were  gazing 
as  eagerly  upon  him.  Slowly,  leaning  on  her  father's 
arms,  but  without  any  perceptible  halting  in  her  gait, 
the  maiden,  still  young,  still  lovely,  the  very  Rosa  of 
his  first  love,  except  that  a  shade  of  deeper  feeling 
of  past  suffering,  softened  the  once  too  brilliant 
beauty  of  her  countenance  ;  she  passed  up  the  aisle 
and  sat  down  facing  him. 

The  blood  seemed  all  to  leap  from  his  heart  to  his 
head,  choking  and  bewildering  him,  and  then  to  be 
driven  back  forcibly  to  his  heart  again,  leaving  him 
pale  and  faint,  as  she  slowly  raised  her  tranquil  eyes, 
until  they  met  his,  and  then  turned  them  away  as 
tranquilly.  He  knew  that  people  were  curiously 
delighting  themselves  with  his  embarrassment,  but  he 
could  not  prevent  that  flush  and  pallor,  for  he  was 
not  expecting  to  be  so  stirred  by  the  sight  of  his  old 
love. 

He  thought  himself  contented  with  his  Evelyn.  He 
expected  to  see  a  girl,  thin  and  sallow  and  crippled, 
instead  of  the  young  creature  who  sat  before  him  in 
soft  and  serene  pride,  those  golden  curls  floating 
lightly  out  from  the  pale  rose-tinted  rim  of  her  hat, 

14 


158  FASHIONABLE   DISSIPATION. 

just  as  they  used  to  glitter  and  float  in  those  happy 
days  gone  by,  when  he,  an  ardent  and  earnest-heart 
ed  youth,  set  in  his  uncle's  pew,  and  could  not  keep 
his  mind  upon  the  good  pastor's  sermons,  because  of 
those  bewildering  tresses  and  the  sweet  face  which  they 
framed.  His  hand  trembled  so,  as  he  held  the  prayer 
book  for  her,  that  Evelyn  looked  up  at  him  in  sur 
prise.  Following  his  gaze,  she,  too,  saw  that  exqui 
site  face  and  form,  met  those  clear,  proud  eyes,  and 
guessed  the  truth. 

Evelyn  was  too  consummate  an  actress  to  make  a 
display  of  her  surprise.  Nobody  in  church  could 
have  guessed  when  she  saw  the  glances  of  the  old 
love  and  the  new  meet,  that  the  bride  had  ever  heard 
of  Rosa  Lee.  Yet  was  she  greatly  disturbed.  She 
had  never  made  Lennard  tremble  thus,  she  had  not 
such  a  face  as  that,  such  a  manner  of  blended  in 
nocence  and  grace — she — in  short,  she  was  jealous  ! 


CHAPTER  X. 

WHEN  we  say  that  a  woman  like  Evelyn  is  jealous, 
we  know  of  course  that  her  husband  is  miserable. 

The  object  of  Evelyn's  ambition,  a  rich  and  fash 
ionable  husband,  being  attained,  her  restless  mind 
and  long-practised  arts  would  not  have  had  sufficient 
material  to  work  upon,  had  she  not  seen  fit  to  cherish 
a  deadly  hatred  against  Rosa  Lee. 

Her  fits  of  coldness  and  freaks  of  temper  were  not 
calculated  to  increase  her  husband's  admiration,  or 
to  make  other  faces  less  pleasing  to  his  eye ;  the 
more  she  betrayed  to  him  of  her  selfish  nature,  and 
of  the  true  motives  which  made  her  marriage  with 
him  so  desirable,  the  more  discontented  with  himself 
and  her  he  grew.  His  only  refuge  from  all  un 
pleasant  scenes  and  feelings  was,  of  course,  the  wine 
cup.  He  seemed  hardly  to  need  the  stimulus  of  dis 
appointment,  self-reproach,  and  the  fair  image  of  a 
lost  happiness  haunting  him,  nor  the  consciousness 
of  truth  sullied,  and  principles  disgraced,  to  add  to 


160  FASHIONABLE  DISSIPATION. 

the  burning  thirst  which  had  always  haunted  him, 
and  never  been  subdued  except  when  drinking  from 
the  pure  waters  of  innocent  delights. 

To  add  to  his  other  discomforts,  Evelyn  had  seri 
ously  displeased  his  uncle  ;  and  that  gentleman  who 
had  always  loved  Rosa  as  a  daughter,  and  felt  great 
grief  at  her  misfortunes,  now  regretted  more  loudly 
than  ever  the  state  of  affairs.  That  he  should  be 
growing  ashamed  of  his  nephew ;  dissipated  habits, 
he  ascribed  with  the  blindness  of  prejudice,  to  the 
influence  of  his  wife  over  him.  He  saw  that  she  was 
vain  and  extravagant ;  and  he  resolved  to  tire  her 
love  of  splendor  by  refusing  the  means  to  indulge  it 
so  easily.  This  was  galling  to  Lennard  and  provok 
ing  to  his  wife  ;  the  former  had  never  before  felt  any 
more  hesitation  in  applying  to  his  adopted  father  for 
money  than  he  would  have  felt  in  addressing  an  own 
parent,  but  now,  and  with  a  wife,  too,  to  be  refused 
like  a  child !  he  swore  it  was  too  bad — but  he  was 
helpless.  However,  the  senior  Lennard  had  no 
thought  of  being  parsimonious  in  his  supplies ;  he 
wished  to  have  them  feel  that  there  was  an  end,  even 
to  a  fortune  ;  and  that  they  must  be  discreet,  and 
make  some  effort  to  be  agreeable  to  him. 

Their  purses  were  well  replenished  for  a  summer 
trip  to  the  springs  and  sea-side  j  where  Lennard  had 


FASHIONABLE   DISSIPATION.  161 

the  reputation  of  being  a  "  little  too  wild,"  and  his 
wife  of  being  the  most  expensively  if  not  the  best 
dressed  woman.  Evelyn  was  in  her  element ;  an 
accomplished  husband  whose  name  and  rank  she  could 
wear — beautiful  dresses  to  display — handsome  women 
to  make  envious — delighted  amateurs  to  sing  to — 
foreign  Counts  and  Barons  to  waltz  with ! — She  for 
got  all  about  Rosa  Lee,  until,  her  season  of  triumph 

over,  the  dissipated  pair  returned  to  C ,  and  her 

unoccupied  mind  returned  to  its  former  moods. 

As  for  the  Lee  family,  they  had  been  far  too  happy 
and  too  comfortable  to  seek  either  happiness  or  com 
fort  in  crowded  watering-places.  The  ice-house  and 
dairy,  the  garden  and  orchard,  the  grove  and  little 
lake  beyond,  the  free  and  fragrant  country  air,  had 
supplied  them  with  finer  luxuries  than  they  could 
buy  at  fashionable  sources. 

Besides,  before  the  September  peaches  were  ripe, 
Blanche  had  a  new  love  and  a  new  occupation  which 
took  up  all  her  heart  and  time.  There  were  loud 
pipings  of  a  shrill  and  tiny  voice,  announcing  a  new 
member  of  the  family,  waking  echoes  long  silent  in 
that  pleasant  old  mansion.  Darling  Lily  was  on  the 
tip-toe  of  her  delight  all  the  time,  hovering  around  a. 
little  crib,  peering  curiously  at  flannels,  and  lace, 

and  embroidery,  and  the  rosy,  wee  lump  of  humanity 
H* 


f 

162  FASHIONABLE    DISSIPATION. 

rolled  therein.  Lily  was  an  aunt!  the  eleven  years 
old  lady  felt  taller  by  three  inches !  yes,  an  aunt, 
and  that  baby  was  her  own  nephew.  Was  there  ever 
such  a  baby  ?  with  such  toes  ?  and  such  hands — five 
little  fingers  for  each !  and  it  had  eyes — and  those 
pretty  little  curls  just  visible  at  the  back  of  its  head 
— no  !  the  proud  aunt  was  confident  there  was  no 
other  boy  like  that.  It  could  cry,  too  ;  none  of  the 
inmates  of  the  house  doubted  that,  though  to  be  can 
did,  it  was  a  healthy,  fine  baby,  and  cried  as  little  as 
could  be  expected. 

It  was  another  instance  of  the  peculiar  beauty  and 
tenderness  of  Pierre  Guyarre's  disposition,  when  not 
shaken  by  those  fierce  tempests  of  passion  which  were 
the  more  dreaded  from  the  contrast,  that  he  should 
so  love  the  boy  of  his  sister.  The  little  fellow  was 
as  dear  to  him  as  to  his  father,  and  his  love  being 
more  demonstrative,  he  treated  the  baby  in  a  way 
that  was  sometimes  beautiful  and  sometimes  laugh 
able. 

Rosa  Lee  would  have  been  more  foolishly  senti 
mental,  and  possessed  a  harder  heart  than  ever  beat 
in  her  fair  bosom,  if  she  had  not  been  gradually  won 
by  the  constant  exhibition  of  such  kindness  and  ten 
derness  as  his.  It  would  have  been  an  extravagant 
piece  of  sentimentality  for  her  to  have  "  pined  away 


FASHIONABLE  DISSIPATION.  163 

and  died"  for  a  first  lover  who  had  proved  so  un 
worthy  (and  was  every  day  proving  himself  more  so) 
as  Charles  Lennard.  Strange  as  it  may  seem,  when 
Lennard  saw  that  he  had  no  power  over  her  feelings, 
and  that  another  was  stealing  into  the  place  he  once 
held  in  her  thoughts,  he  was  angry,  mortified,  and 
discontented.  If  he  could  have  seen  Rosa,  pale  and 
languid,  avoiding  men,  and  a  martyr  to  his  falsehood, 
he  would  have  been  much  better  satisfied.  He  hated 
Pierre  almost  as  fiercely  as  that  young  gentleman 
once  did  him.  When  they  were  thrown  into  the  same 
society,  as  was  very  frequently  the  case,  he  could 
not  keep  from  regarding  the  young  couple  with  looks 
which  his  wife  was  vigilantly  on  the  watch  for. 

Pierre's  home  was  with  Mrs.  Greenwood  ;  and  as 
Blanche  and  Frederick  were  to  spend  the  winter  at 
the  north,  and  as  his  relatives  all  urged  him  to  re 
main  also,  he  was  incapable  of  the  self-denial  of  re 
turning  to  his  solitary  home. 

Mrs.  Greenwood  and  a  host  of  other  fashionables, 
gave  "  brilliant"  parties  ;  several  were  made  in  honor 
of  the  Lennards  ;  so  that  along,  deep  in  the  winter, 
Evelyn  was  resolved  upon  returning  these  compli 
ments  in  a  style  of  unparalleled  magnificence. 

The  Lees  being  on  civil  society  terms  with  them, 
they  were  included  in  her  long  list  j  and  it  was  them 


164  FASHIONABLE   DISSIPATION. 

especially  that  she  wished  to  dazzle  with  splendor. 
If  she  could  rouse  an  envious  pang  in  the  quiet 
breast  of  Rosa,  she  should  be  happy. 

She  wore  her  most  elegant  dress  and  engaging 
manner — her  rooms  were  beautiful  and  all  her  ar 
rangements  grand — she  was  certain  that  when  the 
party  from  Maple  Grove  entered  the  room,  and  she 
saluted  them  with  such  gay  gracefulness,  and  looked 
up  at  her  husband  so  proudly  and  confidingly,  that  it 
must  be  envy,  jealousy,  some  bitter  pang  which  struck 
down  the  bloom  from  Rosa's  cheek  as  she  turned 
away  and  was  supported  to  a  seat  ; — and  believing 
this,  she  was  delighted,  her  spirits  rose,  she  looked  as 
gay  as  her  rooms  did  bright. 

But  she  was  mistaken  !  The  pang  which  dashed 
the  roses  from  Miss  Lee's  cheeks,  was  only  a  return 
of  that  sharp  pain  in  her  side,  which  often  troubled 
her,  and  gave  her  friends  uneasiness — the  only  linger 
ing  pain  left  of  her  once  terrible  wounds.  A  few 
moments  rest  upon  a  sofa,  and  it  had  passed  away, 
and  she  was  as  blooming  as  ever. 

Lennard  too,  had  seen  the  change  upon  her  face, 
and  watched  her  while  she  reclined  upon  the  lounge, 
hoping  wildly,  with  a  beating  heart,  that  it  was  agi 
tation  caused  by  the  circumstances  which  had  so 
overcome  her. 


FASHIONABLE   DISSIPATION.  165 

This  pleasing  illusion  was  destined  to  be  dispelled 
before  the  close  of  the  evening ;  he  chanced  to  over 
hear  some  tender  conversation  between  Miss  Lee 
and  Mr.  Guyarre,  as  they  stood  in  the  conservatory, 
(of  course,  it  is  always  in  the  conservatory  that  such 
things  are  overheard)  in  which  he  discovered  by  the 
pretty  plans  they  were  laying  of  a  "  home  in  the 
South,"  "a  villa  close  by  his  sister's  Eden-like 
grounds,"  "  oriental  kiosks,"  &c.,  &c.,  that  his  hopes 
of  interrupting  their  happiness  were  all  in  vain. 

The  consequences  of  this  disappointment  were, 
that  the  champagne  which  had  been  liberally  provided 
for  the  supper  tables,  was  so  constantly  sought  by 
the  host  that  some  of  his  fair  guests  grew  displeased 
with  him,  and  a  servant  was  called  in  requisition  to 
help  his  master  to  some  quiet  corner  of  the  house 
where  he  could  sleep  stupidly,  while  his  wife,  with 
flushed  cheeks  but  undauntedly  gay  manners,  receiv 
ed  the  farewells  of  their  company.  This  was  the 
bitterest  humiliation  Evelyn  had  ever  suffered  ;  but 
perhaps  she  deserved  it,  having  cherished  such  cruel 
wishes  for  the  discomfiture  of  others. 

She  had  her  revenge  upon  her  husband  for  it, 
though,  her  withering  sarcasms  and  intolerable  scorn 
not  only  drove  him  from  her  presence,  but  caused 


166  FASHIONABLE   DISSIPATION. 

him  to  plunge  deeper  into  the  stream   which  was 
bearing  him  down  to  ruin. 

In  vain  his  uncle  remonstrated,  pleaded,  threat 
ened  ;  he  had  broken  loose  from  restraint,  and  he 
could  not  bridle  himself  again  had  he  desired.  He 
had  times  of  struggling  and  reform  like  all  others, 
who,  hastening  down  the  broad  road,  pause  at  times 
to  listen  to  the  loud  call  of  honor,  conscience, 
shame,  love,  ambition,  remorse — pause,  and  turn, 
and  retrace  feebly  a  few  steps — and  turn  again  to 
rush  on  more  heedlessly  than  before. 

The  Spring-time  saw  a  time  of  bustling  and  heard 
pleasant  notes  of  preparation  at  Maple  Grove. 
Bridget  scrubbed  and  polished,  and  Betty  baked  and 
studied  Mrs.  Slate's  Book  of  Cookery.  Jupiter  flew 
around  with  something  of  the  speed  of  twenty  years 
ago,  Coral  and  Chesterfield  talked  over  matters  in  a 
low  voice  at  the  foot  of  the  stairs,  and  then  Coral 
hurried  up  and  fell  to  assisting  Rosa,  who  was  sewing 
quietly  upon  beautiful  garments,  while  the  valet 
walked  off  with  a  smile,  having  left  the  billet  which 
he  was  commissioned  to  bring  two  or  three  times  a 
day  at  least,  to  the  young  mistress. 

Lily  went  peeping  around,  wondering  what  Betty 
was  baking  so  many  iced-cakes  for,  and  why  Rosa 
had  had  such  a  sweet  white  dress  brought  home — 


FASHIONABLE   DISSIPATION.  167 

Margaret  was  full  of  busy  care — everybody  wore  a 
pleased  and  thoughtful  countenance,  as  if  about  to 
participate  in  an  event  of  great  importance  and 

joy- 
One  morning,  when  the  May  roses  nodded  in  at 
the  windows,  this  important  event  transpired. 

"  Happy  is  the  bride  that  the  sun  shines  upon  ;" 
and  it  shone  tenderly  and  brightly  upon  Rosa 
Guyarre. 

It  was  not  a  year  after  this  that  the  uncle  of  Len- 
nard  died,  and  there  was  no  longer  a  restraining  hand 
upon  his  wife's  extravagance  or  his  own  inclinations. 
The  promise  of  his  youth,  his  ambitions,  prospects 
and  fortune  melted  away.  He  was  wretched  at  home, 
and  desperately  wild  abroad.  Evelyn  experienced 
the  bitterness  of  poverty,  and  the  humiliation  of  hav 
ing  a  poor  drunkard  for  a  husband : — as  long  as  he 
was  a  rich  and  fashionable  debauchee  she  could  be 
proud  of  him — now  she  was  ashamed  of  his  meanness. 
Had  she  been  a  true-hearted  woman,  although  her 
love  for  him  might  not  have  saved  him,  she  might 
have  saved  herself,  and  occupied  a  noble  position  in 
the  respect  and  sympathy  of  former  friends.  But 
she  could  not  descend  from  the  glittering  eminence 
gracefully — she  made  an  effort,  and  failed. 

Being  reduced  by  absolute  want  to  make  some  ex- 


168  FASHIONABLE  DISSIPATION. 

ertion,  she  went  to  New  York,  and  for  a  while  got 
employment  as  a  singer.  But  her  voice,  though  fine, 
was  not  so  splendid  as  to  make  her  a  successful  rival 
of  those  already  upon  the  stage,  she  could  not  wait 
to  win  fame  and  fortune  by  patience  and  discipline ; 
her  talents  as  an  actress  being  better  than  as  a 
singer,  she  went  upon  the  boards  of  a  theatre,  and 
there  enjoyed  the  applause,  the  admiration,  the  seem 
ing  surroundings  of  greatness,  almost  to  her  heart's 
content. 

Lily  had  realized  her  Aladdin's  Lamp  dreams — 
she  had  been  to  the  lovely  South,  and  staid  a  year 
with  Pierre  and  Rosa  in  their  enchanting  home. 
That  we  have  not  given  the  gentle  Maggie  a  lover  in 
this  story,  is  not,  that  she  was  not  worthy,  nor,  in 
truth,  that  she  did  not  have  one.  But  he  was  far 
away  when  the  events  occurred  here  related,  and  that 
he  has  since  returned  and  that  they  are  living  with 
their  father  in  the  old  family  mansion,  nobody  prob 
ably  but  is  glad  to  hear. 


THE   END, 


ADELA  LINCOLN; 


A  TALE  OF  THE  WINE  CUP. 


BY 


M.  P.  CAREY. 


Ibela  33ntoto. 


CHAPTER  I. 


M  Oh !  woman,  who  in  hours  of  ease, 
Uncertain,  coy,  and  hard  to  please, 
And  variable  as  the  shade, 
By  the  light  quivering  aspen  made." 


SCOTT. 


ONE  pleasant  summer    evening  a    riding    party 
stood  before  the  door  of  a  handsome  house,  in  the 

quiet  old  town  of  W .     There  were  three  or  four 

young  girls  and  their  attendant  cavaliers,  and  a 
vacant  side-saddle  upon  a  led  horse,  indicated  that 
they  awaited  an  addition  to  the  group,  while  the 

quick  stamping  of  the  horses'  feet,  and  glances  cast 

171 


172  ADELA   LINCOLN. 

by  the  fair  riders  towards  the  door  of  the  mansion, 
betrayed  impatience  at  a  somewhat  unreasonable  de 
tention. 

"  How  tiresome !"  exclaimed  one,  but  Adela  never 
is  ready.  We  should  have  appointed  half  an  hour 
earlier  than  we  really  wished  to  go,  to  have  ensured 
her  punctuality." 

"  The  truth  is,"  said  another,  "  Adela  is  spoiled, 
set  up  as  she  is  as  an  idol ;  parents,  brother,  and  an 
obsequious  household,  all  deferring  to  her.  She  con 
sults  only  her  own  convenience,  regardless  of  the 
comfort  of  others." 

"  The  fault,  then,  must  be  in  her  training,  and  not 
inherent,"  said  one  of  the  gentlemen  j  "  I  can  never 
believe  that  such  a  gentle,  lovely  creature,  can  be 
consistently  selfish." 

"  At  least  ladies  confess,"  exclaimed  a  handsome 
young  man,  who  had  listened  with  great  apparent 
interest  to  these  remarks  "  that  whatever  may  be 
Miss  Lincoln's  faults,  it  is  impossible  to  remember 
them  in  her  presence." 

"  Oh  !  yes,"  said  the  first  speaker,  "  you  men  are 
all  just  now  bewitched  by  Adela's  beauty  ;  but  I 
should  like,  of  all  things,  to  see  your  patience 
exposed  to  the  same  trial  a  few  years  hence,  when 
you  are  married  men,  even  supposing  you  should 


ADELA   LINCOLN.  173 

cither  of  you,  secure  our  peerless  friend  here,  for  a 
wife.  Then,  instead  of  this  deferential  waiting  upon 
her  pleasure,  there  would  be  impatient  strides  to  and 
fro,  upon  the  sidewalk,  varied  by  sundry  rushings  into 
the  house,"  and  winding  up  with  an  authoritative, 
*  Come,  madam,  this  delay  is  insufferable.'  ' 

Before  the  gentlemen  could  enter  a  disclaimer,  the 
door  opened,  and  Adela  came  forth.  She  looked  so 
charming,  in  her  graceful  riding  costume,  that  the 
most  impatient  looks  were  exchanged  for  smiles  of 
welcome,  and,  in  a  moment,  the  young  men  were  off 
their  horses,  and  had  gathered  around,  eager  for  the 
honor  of  placing  her  on  her  saddle.  She  looked 
from  one  to  another,  in  momentary  indecision,  and 
then,  wilfully  rejecting  their  outstretched  hands, 
attempted  to  spring  into  her  seat  without  assistance. 

It  was  a  feat  she  had  often  performed,  in  the  wild 
days  of  her  childhood,  which  had  been  passed  in  the 
country ;  but  now,  encumbered  by  the  heavy  folds  of 
her  habit,  she  bore  with  such  force  upon  the  saddle, 
that  it  turned,  and  she  fell  to  the  ground,  with  some 
violence,  and  was  for  a  few  moments  insensible. 

The  scene  which  ensued  was  one  of  indescribable 
confusion.  Adela's  mother,  who  had  been  watching 
her  darling  from  the  door,  rushed  out  with  wild 

screams ;  the  horses,  upon  which  the  ladies  sat,  rear- 
is* 


174  ADELA   LINCOLN. 

ed  and  plunged  with  fright,  requiring  the  utmost 
skill  of  their  riders  to  restrain  them,  while  one  or 
two  that  were  loose,  dashed  down  the  street,  followed 
by  a  groom,  and  half  a  dozen  idlers  who  had  collected 
round  the  party.  Among  the  young  men,  who  impe 
ded  each  other  in  their  efforts  to  raise  Adela's 
prostrate  form,  the  one  who  had,  just  before,  been  so 
eager  in  her  defence,  evinced  extraordinary  agitation, 
and  pushing  the  others  aside,  with  some  exclamation 
of  despair,  he  clasped  her  in  his  arms,  to  convey  her 
into  the  house. 

Amid  the  tumult,  the  object  of  all  this  solicitude 
recovered  consciousness,  and,  perceiving  her  situa 
tion,  a  deep  flush  suffused  her  face,  as  she  haughtily 
disengaged  herself,  and  rising,  leaned  upon  her 
mother. 

"  Do,  dear  mamma,  be  quiet,"  said  she,  "  I  am  not 
hurt,"  and  turning  towards  her  agitated  group  of 
friends,  she  laughed  as  she  regarded  them. 

"  Really,  I  am  sorry  to  have  created  all  this  con 
fusion,  especially  as  I  had  already  been  guilty  of  an 
unpardonable  delay ;  but  see,  the  horses  are  all  re 
captured,  and  it  is  not  too  late  yet  for  our  ride." 

But  her  mother  and  her  friends  protested  against 
her  attempting  to  remount,  insisting  that  she  would 
require  a  quiet  evening,  after  the  shock  she  had  sus- 


ADELA  LINCOLN.  175 

tained.  Resisting  still  her  mother's  efforts  to  draw 
her  into  the  house,  Adela  threw  herself,  like  a  child, 
upon  the  marble  steps  that  led  to  the  door,  and  de 
clared  that  she  would  remain  there  until  she  saw  the 
rest  of  the  party  off,  as  she  was  determined  they 
should  not  lose  their  enjoyment  upon  her  account. 
She  carried  her  point,  as  she  usually  did  ;  she  waiv 
ed  her  hand  with  a  smiling  adieu,  as  her  friends  rode 
off,  and  observed  with  secret  satisfaction,  that  all  the 
gentlemen,  as  long  as  they  continued  in  view,  turned 
their  heads,  as  if  reluctant  to  lose  sight  of  her.  It 
was  not  until  they  had  entirely  disappeared,  that  she 
turned  towards  her  especial  cavalier,  who  had  dis 
missed  his  horse,  and  stood,  looking  anxious  and 
miserable,  at  her  side. 

"  Ah !  Mr.  Carroll,  are  you  there  ?"  said  she  ; 
"  why  did  you  not  continue  your  ride  ?  It  is  a  pity 
to  lose  such  a  beautiful  afternoon." 

"  You  know,"  he  began  passionately  ;  but  a  look 
at  her  calm  face  checked  him,  and  he  approached  her 
with  a  more  subdued  tone. 

"  After  your  twice  rejecting  my  assistance  this 
evening,  Miss  Lincoln,  I  am  almost  afraid  to  offer  it 
to  you  again  ;  but  I  shall  esteem  it  an  honor  if  you 
will  allow  me  to  support  you  into  the  house." 

Again  her  cheek  colored,  but  she  rose  in  silence 


176  ADELA  LINCOLN. 

and  leaned  upon  his  arm,  until  he  led  her  to  a  chair 
within  the  hall. 

"  I  know,"  said  he,  "  that  fr  ought  to  leave  you 
now  to  rest ;  but  I  cannot  bear  to  go,  until  you  tell 
me  how  I  have  offended  you." 

"  You  must  have  seen,  Mr.  Carroll,"  she  replied, 
"  that  I  resented  your  very  demonstrative  manner 
when  I  fell  from  my  horse.  If  I  have  confessed  for 
you  a  shade  of  preference  over  the  rest  of  the  young 
men  of  my  acquaintance,  I  have  by  no  means  gone 
so  far  as  to  accord  to  you  the  privilege  of  an  accept 
ed  lover." 

"  But,  Adela,"  said  he,  appealingly,  "  you  have 
allowed  me  to  hope ;  is  this  cruel  suspense  to  con 
tinue  forever." 

"  Oh  !  pray,"  said  she,  "  do  not  renew  that  subject 
now,  my  head  is  beginning  to  feel  confused,  and  I 
am  not  equal  to  the  effort  of  a  sentimental  conversa 
tion." 

"I  should  be  the  last  person,  Miss  Lincoln,  to 
force  one  upon  you,"  said  her  companion,  preparing 
to  retire,  with  an  offended  air. 

She  raised  her  eyes  to  him,  as  he  spoke,  and 
smiled,  and  supporting  her  head  upon  one  hand,  she 
extended  the  other  to  him,  with  a  gentle,  "  Good 


AEELA  LINCOLN.  177 

evening,  then,  I  hope  when  you  come  again  you  will 
be  in  a  better  humor." 

He  was  at  her  side  in  a  moment,  completely 
subdued. 

"  Ah  !  Adela,"  said  he,  as  he  pressed  her  hand 
with  ardor,  "  you  crush  me  with  coldness,  only  to 
bid  be  live  again  upon  your  smiles." 

Adela  Lincoln  had  the  misfortune  to  be  the  only 
daughter  of  weakly  indulgent  parents.  The  darling 
plaything,  in  her  infancy,  of  a  brother  several  years 
older  than  herself,  she  had  grown  to  womanhood, 
with  no  check  upon  her  wayward  spirit,  but  a  natu 
rally  sweet  temper,  with  which  was  mingled  a  strong 
vein  of  good  sense.  Flattered  and  caressed,  both 
at  home  and  abroad,  her  vanity  had  been  fostered 
until  it  had  become  her  besetting  sin,  and  she  sought 
now  her  chief  gratification  in  the  triumph,  which  her 
rare  beauty  and  captivating  manners  invariably  gavo 
her,  over  all  the  men  who  came  within  the  sphere  of 
her  influence.  This  thirst  for  conquest  grew  with 
each  victory,  and  always  bade  fair  to  congeal  into 
positive  insensibility,  the  impulses  of  a  naturally 
noble  and  generous  heart.  Among  the  many  aspi 
rants  for  her  favor,  Edward  Carroll  had  obtained  the 
ascendency,  so  far  as  to  win  from  her  a  concession 
that  she  preferred  him  to  all  the  others ;  at  the  samo 


178  ADELA  LINCOLN. 

time,  she  assured  him  that  she  did  not  feel  the  strong 
regard  which  his  ardent  affection  demanded,  and 
nntil  she  did  she  would  not  consent  to  an  engage 
ment. 

With  this  he  was  forced  to  be  content ;  and 
while  she  encouraged  abundantly  the  admiration  of 
other  suitors,  he  poured  out  of  her  honest  heart,  for 
her  alone,  treasures  of  love,  which  she  neither  com 
prehended  nor  valued.  Perhaps,  if  Edward  Carroll 
had  attained  a  deeper  insight  into  female  human 
nature,  he  would  have  become  aware  that  he  had  mis 
taken  the  way  to  a  realization  of  his  hopes.  Adela, 
accustomed  to  almost  universal  supremacy,  despised 
a  too  easy  conquest,  and  would  have  been  more 
readily  won  if  he  had  kept  her  longer  in  suspense  as 
to  his  regard,  or  had  excited  her  interest  by  atten 
tions  to  other  women.  But  every  thing  like  manage 
ment  was  foreign  to  Edward  Carroll's  upright  nature, 
and  having  once  yielded  his  heart,  he  wished  not 
only  Adela,  but  all  the  world,  to  know  that  she  was 
the  object  of  his  adoration. 

On  the  day  after  Adela's  accident,  one  of  her 
young  friends  called,  anxious  to  assure  herself  that 
she  had  sustained  no  injury.  Adela,  apparently  quite 
well,  and  in  the  finest  spirits,  was  reading  a  letter 
that  she  had  just  received  from  her  brother.  He  had 


ADELA   LINCOLN.  179 

lately  graduated  at  college  and  was  coming  home ;  a 
number  of  his  classmates  were  to  accompany  him,  not  as 
his  guests,  but  to  sojourn  for  a  few  weeks  in  the  town 

of  W ,  which  at  that  time  had  a  great  reputation 

for  the  beauty  of  its  women,  the  gaiety  of  its  amuse 
ments,  and  for  its  society  at  once  hospitable  and 
elegant. 

"  Will  it  not  be  delightful,  Agnes,"  said  Adela,  to 
have  so  many  nice  new  beaux  !" 

"  I  cannot  judge  of  their  attractions  before  I  see 
them,"  said  Agnes,  quietly ;  « how  do  you  know 
they  will  be  so  nice  ?" 

"Oh!"  said  Adela,  "Frank  endorses  them,  and 
that  is  enough  for  me  ;  they  are  his  friends,  and  he 
says  a  set  of  fine  fellows.  There  is  one  among  them," 
she  continued,  with  sparkling  eyes,  *'  who,  he  tells 
me,  will  carry  all  our  hearts  by  storm ;  well  born  well 
bred,  and  gifted  with  the  finest  talents." 

Agnes  began  to  repeat,  in  a  low  tone,  the  words  of 
Burns  : 

"Saw  ye  fair  Leslie? 
She 's  gone  o'er  the  border, 
She 's  gone  like  Alexander, 
To  spread  her  conquests  farther." 

"  If  you  mean  that  for  me,"  said  Adela,  with  a 
conscious  smile,  "  your  application  is  hardly  correct, 


180  ADELA  LINCOLN. 

as  I  have  neither  wish  nor  intention  to  go  abroad  in 
search  of  conquests  ;  but  you  can  hardly  blame 
me  for  taking  advantage  of  such  as  come  in  my 
path." 

"  But  pray,  Adela,"  said  Agnes,  "  what  is  to  be 
come  of  Edward  Carroll  when  this  paragon  appears  ?" 

Adela's  brow  slightly  clouded. 

"  Really,  I  cannot  say,"  she  replied,  "  he  has  a 
fair  share  of  attractions  himself,  and  need  not  dread 
an  encounter  ;  and  even  if  he  suffers  an  eclipse,  he 
can  but  withdraw  from  the  scene." 

"  But  what  is  to  become  of  his  heart  ?"  persisted 
Agnes  ;  "  that  is,  I  fear,  too  far  gone  to  withdraw, 
and  it  is  a  noble  heart,  Adela,  too  noble  to  throw 
carelessly  aside." 

"  You  talk  understandingly  of  men's  hearts  ?" 
said  Adela,  lightly;  "you  may  know  more  about 
them,  than  I ;  but  for  my  part,  I  agree  with  Rosalind, 
that  '  men  have  died  from  time  to  time,  and  worms 
have  eaten  them,  but  not  for  love.'  ' 

"  No,  Adela,"  said  her  friend,  seriously,  "  I  have 
no  thought  that  even  you  could  kill  Edward  Carroll ; 
but  you  have  caused  him  much  suffering,  and  I  doubt 
not,  there  is  more  in  store  for  him  yet." 

"  How  very  eloquent  you  grow  in  Edward's  cause," 


ADELA  LINCOLN.  «    181 

said  Adela,  somewhat  irritated ;  "  pray,  has  he  en 
listed  your  good  offices  in  his  behalf?" 

"  Not  at  all,"  replied  Agnes  ;  "  but  he  is  an  old 
and  valued  friend,  and  I  cannot  bear  to  see  him  so 
tormented." 

"  Then  you  must  have  some  closer  interest  yet," 
said  Adela ;  "  if  so  I  will  resign  him  to  you  at  a 
word." 

"  How  magnanimous  ?"  said  Agnes,  calmly  ;  "  yet, 
even  were  I  disposed  to  avail  myself  of  your  very 
disinterested  offer,  I  hardly  think  that  Mr.  Carroll 
would  consent  to  be  transferred.  Come  here,  Adela," 
continued  she,  rising,  "  and  stand  with  me  before 
this  mirror,  and  let  us  see  what  chance  my  outward 
attractions  would  have  against  yours.  You  are  all 
light,  and  life,  and  bloom,  and  I — every  feature 
plain,  every  tint  sober,  without  even  a  pair  of  fine 
eyes  to  light  up  the  dull  blank  of  my  face.  Adela, 
can  you  deny  that  the  portrait  is  correct  ?" 

"  At  least,"  said  Adela,  "  I  can  remind  you  that 
your  figure  is  beautiful,  and  that  every  one  remarks 
Miss  Temple's  stylish  and  elegant  air." 

"  Do  they  ?  well,  there  are  a  certain  set  of  kind 
people  who,  when  a  girl's  face  is  hopelessly  plain, 
endeavor  to  discover  some  fine  points  about  her 
shape  j  but  I  am  quite  sure  that  neither  Mr.  Carroll, 

16 


182  ADELA  LINCOLN. 

nor  any  other  of  your  suitors,  whom  you  may  gene 
rously  wish  to  transfer  to  me,  would  find  me,  even 
with  my  «  beautiful'  figure,  an  offset  to  your  captivat 
ing  self.  But,  Adela,  just  one  word  more  in  Edward 
Carroll's  behalf,  and  believe  me,  dear  friend,  it  is 
your  interest  I  have  most  at  heart ;  you  will  never 
meet  a  man  more  calculated  to  make  you  happy ;  you 
acknowledge  that  he  has  a  more  than  ordinary  share 
of  attractions,  and  supreme  above  all,  is  his  entire 
devotion,  without  a  tinge  of  selfishness  or  calculation, 
to  you.  This  is  rare  praise  for  any  man,  but  you 
cannot  say  that  it  is,  in  his  case,  unmerited;  and 
you  may  find  one  day,  if  you  reject  his  love,  that 
you  have  cast  away  4  a  pearl  richer  than  all  its 
tribe."' 

"Well,  Agnes,"  said  Adela,  "you  are  a  good 
pleader  ;  but  I  will  answer  you  as  seriously  as  you 
have  spoken.  I  do  admire  Mr.  Carroll,  and  I  think  I 
rightly  value  his  good  qualities  ;  I  have  told  him 
that  I  prefer  him  to  all  other  young  men,  and  yet  I 
do  not  love  him.  Indeed,  I  will  go  further  and  say 
that,  at  times,  I  weary  of  him  ;  he  is  too  devoted  ; 
he  comes  to  see  me  every  day,  he  joins  me  every  time 
I  meet  him  in  the  street,  and  at  parties,  you  know, 
he  is  as  my  shadow.  He  does  not  give  ine  time  to 
miss  his  society,  or  to  wish  for  his  return,  before  he 


ADELA  LINCOLN.  183 

is  again  at  my  side  ;  confess,  that  you  think  with  me, 
that  such  constant  devotion  is  calculated  rather  to 
smother  interest  than  to  excite  it.  It  is  not  my  fault 
if  he  will  not  be  discouraged." 

"  Stop,  Adela,"  exclaimed  Agnes,  "  turn  your  face 
to  the  light,  and  let  me  look  at  you  whilst  I  tell  you 
what  I  have  seen,  when  your  admirers,  irritated  by 
jealousy  or  stung  by  neglect,  have  struggled  to  es 
cape.  I  have  seen  your  hand  extended  with  a  soft 
adieu,  or  your  eye  lifted  with  a  deprecating  glance, 
and  then  shyly  withdrawn,  or  a  smile  covertly  be 
stowed,  or  a  flower  silently  offered,  and  all  with  such 
effect,  that  the  poor  victims,  in  a  tumult  of  delight, 
have  returned  to  their  captivity — is  this  like  dis 
couragement?  Ah!  Adela  blushing — guilty!  guilty!" 

«  Oh  !  this  is  too  bad,"  said  Adela,  laughing  ;  "  I 
am  not  in  a  confessional,  nor  are  you  my  confessor  ; 
I  will  take  care  that  you  do  not  watch  me  so  closely 
for  the  future.'' 

"  Ah,  Adela,"  said  Agnes,  hanging  around  her 
caressingly,  "  give  up  your  coquetry,  make  a  nobler 
use  of  your  really  generous  heart, — at  least,  promise 
me,  that  when  these  strangers,  who  have  so  dazzled 
your  imagination,  shall  have  come,  and  one,  perhaps, 
has  obtained  an  interest  in  your  regard,  you  will  can- 


184  ADELA  LINCOLN. 

didly  acknowledge  it  to  Edward,  before  you  engage 
yourself  to  another." 

"  Trust  me,  I  will,"  said  Adela  j  "  but  pray  do 
not  talk  of  engagements,  it  makes  me  shudder,  as  if 
a  cold  chain  were  thrown  around  me." 

Adela  determined  to  give  a  party  to  celebrate  the 
return  of  her  brother.  All  that  taste  could  devise, 
or  skill  create,  was  to  be  put  in  requisition  to  lend 
enchantment  to  the  festival.  Frank  Lincoln  did  not 
arrive  until  late  on  the  appointed  day,  and  when, 
after  leaving  his  friends  at  an  hotel,  he  joined  his 
family,  he  informed  them  that  the  young  gentlemen, 
after  a  reasonable  time  for  rest  and  refreshment, 
would  be  presented  to  his  sister  among  the  earliest 
guests  at  her  ball. 

"  I  am  glad  to  see,  Adela,"  said  he  "  that  you 
have  lost  none  of  your  bloom  ;  I  really  want  you  to 
make  an  impression  to-night ;  but,  unfortunately, 
among  the  {  desirables'  whom  I  have  brought  to  swell 
the  list  of  your  admirers,  the  bright  particular  star 
either  affects,  or  really  feels,  a  total  insensibility  to 
beauty." 

"  You  allude,  I  suppose"  said  Adela,  "  to  the  Mr. 
Lovel,  upon  whose  various  gifts  you  were  so  eloquent 
in  your  letters  j  pray,  in  what  direction  does  hia 


ADELA   LINCOLN.  185 

fastidious  taste  incline,  if  beauty  does  not  move 
him  ?» 

« It  would  be  hard  to  say,"  said  Frank.  "  I  have 
been  with  him  constantly,  and  yet  never  could  ex 
actly  find  out  what  he  admired  in  women.  He  is 
scrupulously  polite  to  them,  never  fails  in  his  les 
bieTiseances,  when  in  their  society ;  but  when  out  of 
it,  seems  to  put  them  away  from  his  memory  alto 
gether.  At  one  time,  I  have  raved  for  an  hour  about 
the  personal  charms  of  some  young  girl  we  have  been 
visiting  together ;  and  after  listening,  with  a  sort 
of  indulgent  air,  to  my  burst  of  enthusiasm,  he  has 
acknowledged  that  he  had  not  noticed  whether  she 
was  tall  or  short,  or  had  blue  eyes  or  grey  j  and 
again,  when  I  have  been  charmed  with  the  intelligence 
or  vivacity  of  some  other  fair,  he  has  averred,  with  a 
yawn,  that  he  could  find  better  talk  in  a  book  at  any 
time.  And  yet  Lovel  has  none  of  the  affectation  so 
prevalent  in  our  time  ;  he  does  not  aim  at  getting  a 
reputation  for  unimpeachable  taste,  by  admiring  wo- 
thing,  nor  does  he  attempt  to  wither  by  his  contempt, 
those  independent  beings  who  venture  to  judge  a 
work  of  art  or  an  aspect  of  nature,  by  the  impression 
made  on  their  individual  sensibilities." 

"  Perhaps,"  said  Adela,  «  he  has  been  chilled  by 
some  repulse  or  disappointment  ?" 

16* 


* 

186  AEELA   LINCOLN. 

"  Commend  me  to  a  woman  for  a  romantic  reason,'* 
said  Frank,  smiling :  "  but  you  are  out  entirely  • 
Lovel  told  me  himself  that  he  had  never  spoken  a 
word  of  love  to  a  woman  in  his  life,  and  take  my 
word  for  it  he  would  hardly  have  met  with  a  repulse 
if  he  had.  I  sometimes  think  that  the  secret  of  his 
indifference  to  almost  everything  that  interests  people, 
is  laziness  ;  he  lounged  over  his  books  at  school  dur 
ing  the  whole  term,  invariably  late  in  rising,  and  be 
hind  time  at  every  lecture  ;  when  only  a  few  weeks 
before  commencement,  he  shut  himself  up,  read  hard, 
and  came  out  in  the  end  ahead  of  us  all." 

Adela  listened  in  silence,  while  her  thoughts  were 
busy  ;  here,  then,  was  an  occasion  worthy  of  her 
powers ;  she  did  not  doubt  her  ability  to  subdue  this 
unimpressible  gentleman,  for  with  her,  heretofore,  to 
see  had  been  to  conquer ;  but  now — how  infinitely 
greater  would  be  the  triumph  when  the  occasion  was 
so  difficult. 


CHAPTER  II. 


"  Fear  ye  the  festal  hour ! 
Aye,  tremble  when  the  cup  of  joy  o'erflowa  I 
Tame  down  the  swelling  heart! 

Red  wines  have  sparkled  fast 
From  venomed  goblets,  and  soft-breezes  pass'd 
With  fatal  perfume,  through  the  revel's  bower." 

HEMAWS. 


FULL  of  this  anticipated  triumph,  radiant  in  beauty, 
and  exquisitely  dressed,  Adela  stood  in  her  drawing- 
room,  an  hour  or  two  later,  to  receive  her  guests. 
Her  brother  had  gone  to  the  hotel  for  his  friends,  and 
she  was  alone  when  Edward  Carroll  was  announced. 
She  resented  his  coming  so  early,  as  if  asserting  a 
right ;  and  as  he  asked  her  hand  for  the  first  dance, 
she  coldly  answered  that  she  had  promised  her 
brother  to  reserve  it  for  one  of  his  friends. 

"  They  are  strangers,  you  know,"  said  she,  "  and 
will  require  my  attention  until  I  can  introduce  them 

to  other  ladies." 

187 


188  ABEL  A   LINCOLN. 

She  hoped  secretly  that  it  would  be  Mr.  Lovel  for 
whom  her  brother  would  secure  her  hand.  Edward 
looked  mortified,  and  in  silence  presented  the  offer 
ing  that  he  had  brought;  it  was  a  purely  white 
camelia,  with  its  cluster  of  polished  leaves ;  Adela's 
smiles  returned  as  she  accepted  and  placed  it  in  her 
shining  hair ;  it  drooped  over  a  brow  fairer  than  the 
flower.  Edward  had  not  time  to  utter  the  compli 
ment  that  trembled  on  his  lips,  ere  the  door  opened, 
and  Frank  Lincoln,  with  half  a  dozen  gentlemanly 
looking  young  men  appeared. 

Adela  listened  eagerly  while  her  brother  presented 
them  by  name ;  but  one  was  wanting. 

"  Where  is  Mr.  Lovel,  Frank  ?"  she  asked,  with  a 
shade  of  disappointment  in  her  tone. 

There  was  a  general  laugh  at  this  question,  among 
the  young  men,  and  one  of  them  exclaimed — 

"  Will  you  believe  it,  Miss  Lincoln,  when  we  sepa 
rated  this  evening,  to  prepare  for  your  party,  Lovel 
promised  to  be  dressed  in  half  an  hour's  time,  and 
when  we  were  all  ready  we  found  him  fast  asleep. 
We  roused  him  with  dificulty,  and  left  him  with  an 
hundred  charges  to  be  ready  when  Frank  came 
for  us  ;  and  when  your  brother  arrived  and  went  to 
his  room,  he  found  him  in  a  second  sleep  as  sound  as 


ADELA  LINCOLN.  189 

the  first ;  of  course  we  would  not  wait  any  longer  for 
such  an  incorrigible  fellow." 

"  But  he  will  come  yet  ?"  asked  Adela  anxiously. 

"  Oh  yes  !  he  will  come  after  a  while  ;  he  is  des 
perately  afraid  of  being  impolite,  and  when  he  saw 
Frank  he  was  full  of  apologies,  and  promised  to  follow 
us  directly.  I  must  add,  however,  Miss  Lincoln,  that 
if  Lovel  has  a  weakness,  it  is  to  be  considered  the 
best  dressed  man  among  us,  and  he  never  was  known 
to  hurry  himself  in  his  life." 

Adela  was  thoroughly  annoyed,  but  she  was  too 
well  bred  to  show  it.  Fresh  arrivals  now  demanded 
her  attention,  and  she  had  time  to  introduce  her 
brother's  friends  to  the  most  desirable  young  ladies, 
to  dance  with  one  or  two,  and  to  talk  a  little  to  them 
all,  before  the  recreant  Lovel  appeared.  He  had 
approached,  with  Frank,  quite  to  the  spot  where  she 
stood,  during  a  pause  in  the  dance,  before  she  was 
aware  of  his  arrival  j  but  she  could  not  have  chosen 
a  more  favorable  moment  for  making  an  impression. 
The  unstudied  grace  of  her  attitude  revealed  her 
fine  figure  in  one  of  its  best  aspects,  and 

«  On  her  cheeks  the  dies 
Were  yet  warm  with  the  dance's  exercise." 

She  started  as  her  brother  named  Mr.  Lovel,  but 
immediately  offered  her  hand  with  an  empressment 


190  ADELA  LINCOLN, 

which  would  have  driven  to  frenzy  some  of  her  young 
adorers  ;  and  Edward  Carroll,  who  stood  near,  no 
ticed,  with  an  inward  pang,  her  sparkling  eyes  and 
animated  tones,  as  she  addressed  the  stranger.  But, 
although  Adela  brought  to  bear  upon  Mr.  Lovel  the 
whole  battery  of  her  charms,  she  had  the  mortifica 
tion  to  perceive  that  he  did  not  seem  in  the  least 
bewildered.  After  dancing  once  with  him,  she  walk 
ed,  leaning  on  his  arm,  through  the  rooms,  and  asked 
him,  smilingly,  to  indicate  which  of  the  lovely  girls 
around  them,  she  should  introduce  him  to  He  en 
treated  her  to  spare  him  the  trial  of  making  a  choice  j 
but  she  insisted,  and  he,  at  length,  pointed  out  her 
friend,  Miss  Temple,  who  was  sitting,  with  some 
elderly  ladies,  at  a  little  distance. 

"  There,"  said  he,  "  is  a  young  lady  who  has  a 
very  benevolent  aspect ;  and  besides,  she  does  not 
seem  to  have  a  partner  for  the  quadrille  just  form 
ing." 

Adela  could  scarcely  conceal  her  surprise  ;  for, 
though  she  fully  appreciated  Miss  Temple's  valuable 
qualities,  as  a  sensible  and  excellent  woman,  she 
knew  that  she  was  decidedly  plain,  and  without  even 
the  young,  fresh,  look  which  usually  attracts  the 
regards  of  the  other  sex.  She  had,  however,  the 
generosity  to  say,  as  she  approached,  "  Agnes,  Mr. 


ADELA  LINCOLN.  191 

Lovel  desires  the  honor  of  your  acquaintance  j  for 
she  knew  that  Miss  Temple  steadily  resisted  any 
attempt,  on  the  part  of  her  friends,  to  secure  for  her 
the  attentions  of  gentlemen  who  had  not  really 
asked  for  an  introduction.  Adela  would  gladly  have 
remained  near,  to  have  observed,  whether  Mr,  Lovel 
would  maintain,  in  conversation  with  Agnes,  the 
same  calm  and  rather  grave  exterior  that  had  so  sur 
prised  her  whilst  she  had  lavished  her  smiles  upon 
him  ;  but  her  presence  was  required  elsewhere,  and 
it  was  not  until  the  close  of  the  evening  that  she 
again  encountered  him.  He  had  danced  more  than 
once  with  Miss  Temple,  and  had  remained  at  her  side 
until  he  resigned  her  to  another  partner,  and  had 
finished  the  evening  in  conversation  with  Mrs.  Lincoln 
and  one  or  two  other  matrons  who  sat  with  her  in  a 
quiet  corner. 

Adela  assisted  her  friend  in  arranging  her  wrap 
pings,  as  she  bade  her  good  night. 

«  What  did  you'think  of  Mr.  Lovel,  Agnes?"  she 
asked. 

"  I  think  him  the  most  elegant  man  I  ever  saw," 
said  Agues.  "  He  is  fluent  in  conversation,  and  very 
agreeable." 

Adela  paused  a  moment ;  she  was  dying  to  know 
Whether  Mr.  Lovel  had  spoken  of  her  to  Agnes. 


192  ADELA   LINCOLN. 

She  hesitated  to  expose  her  weakness,  even  to  her 
most  intimate  friend  ;  but,  finally,  curiosity  got  the 
better  of  discretion,  and  she  whispered — 

"  Did  he  say  anything  to  you  about  me  ?" 

Agnes  looked  at  her  steadily. 

"  I  am  sorry  to  disappoint  you,"  she  said,  "  if  you 
are  expecting  a  tribute  to  your  charms,  but  he  really 
did  not  once  mention  your  name." 

Adela's  cheeks  tingled,  and  she  experienced,  for 
the  first  time,  a  vague  dread  of  a  discomfiture,  which 
had  not  entered  into  her  calculations. 

The  advent  of  so  many  distinguished  young  men 
gave  an  impulse  to  the  gayety  of  the  town,  which  had 
somewhat  languished  during  the  heat  of  summer. 
Innumerable  were  the  parties  by  night,  and  rides  and 
excursions  by  day,  to  the  numerous  beautiful  localities 

which  surround  the  town  of  W .  In  all  these 

amusements  Adela  took  a  prominent  part,  and  was  con 
stantly  brought  into  contact  with  Lovel ;  but,  though 
she  continued  to  exercise  upon  him  all  the  arts  of 
pleasing,  in  which  she  wag  so  eminently  versed,  he 
manifested  no  farther  sensibility  to  them  than  the 
demands  of  courtesy  required,  and  on  all  occasions 
divided  his  attentions  equally  between  her  and  any 
other  young  ladies  who  happened  to  be  in  company 
with  her.  If  Lovel  had  any  designs  upon  her  heart, 


ADELA  LINCOLN.  193 

he  could  not  have  taken  more  effectual  means  to  pro 
mote  them.  His  strange  indifference  to  her  fascina 
tions,  which  previous  success  had  taught  her  to 
consider  all-powerful — his  abstraction  when  not  re 
quired,  by  politeness,  to  converse  with  her — and  the 
readiness  with  which  he  yielded  his  place  at  her  side 
when  any  other  approached,  created  in  her  an  anxious 
interest ;  and,  in  proportion  as  her  hope  of  captivating 
him  fell,  her  estimate  of  his  attractive  qualities  rose, 
until  she  could  no  longer  say  that  she  preferred 
Edward  Carroll  to  all  others. 

While  Adela  was  in  this  state  of  suspense  her 
heart  disturbed  by  the  dawning  of  an  emotion  which 
she  did  not  yet  understand,  Frank  Lincoln  arranged 
a  dinner  party  for  his  college  friends,  and  Adela 
selected  a  few  of  the  loveliest  and  most  charming  of 
her  young  associates  to  assist  her  in  making  it  an 
agreeable  one.  Beautiful  flowers  and  delicious  fruits 
adorned  the  table ;  viands,  the  most  recherche,  were 
served,  to  tempt  the  appetite,  and  choice  wines  flowed 
freely,  and  with  rather  too  palatable  an  effect  upon 
the  young  men,  who  were  already  sufficiently  bewil 
dered  by  the  beauty  of  their  fair  companions.  Adela's 
spirits,  which  had  lately  suffered  a  slight  check,  on 
this  occasion  shone  out  with  renewed  animation,  and 

gave  a  tone  to  the  conversation.     It  was  a  moment 
17 


194  ADELA  LINCOLN. 

of  unreserve,  and  many  jests  were  passed  upon  each 
other  by  the  young  collegians,  and  allusions  made  to 
former  revels,  in  which  they  had  been  betrayed  into 
a  forgetfulness  of  their  self-respect;  and  to  these 
jests  and  allusions — because  they  were  in  refined 
phrase,  and  had  only  a  bearing  upon  some  slight 
lapse  in  temperance — the  young  ladies  listened  with 
smiling  looks,  unmindful  of  the  mighty  moral  power 
that  they  might  have  exerted  by  their  marked  dis 
couragement  and  disapproval. 

Amid  all  this  exhiliration,  Edward  Carroll  had 
quietly  rejected  the  wine  each  time  that  Frank  had 
sent  it  to  him. 

"  Why  do  you  not  drink  to-day,  Mr.  Carroll,"  said 
Adela,  who  sat  next  him.  "  I  know  you  are  bound 
by  no  pledge.  Are  you  adopting  this  severe  absti 
nence  to  reprove  us  all  for  our  frivolity  ?" 

"  Pardon  me,  Miss  Lincoln,"  said  Edward ;  "  I 
was  only  indulging  a  disinclination  to  wine,  which  I 
hoped  would  attract  no  attention.  I  certainly  never 
aspired  to  the  dignity  of  a  censor." 

Adela's  attack  drew  the  attention  of  the  rest  of  the 
company  upon  Edward's  empty  glass,  and  every  effort, 
consistent  with  good  breeding,  was  made  by  the  young 
men  to  induce  him  to  drink,  but  without  effect. 
Without  any  affectation  of  austerity,  he  resisted 


AEELA  LINCOLN.  195 

their  "efforts,  until  they  were  fairly  foiled  by  his 
firmness.  At  length  Adela,  willing  to  show  her 
power  over  him,  caused  two  goblets  to  be  filled  with 
champaigne,  and,  taking  one  herself,  extended  the 
other  to  him. 

"  You  are  the  only  gentleman  at  the  table  who  has 
not  taken  wine  with  me  to-day,  Mr.  Carroll,  and  you 
will  surely  not  refuse  me  now,  when  I  anticipate 
your  dilatory  attention  ?" 

All  eyes  were  fixed  on  Edward  now ;  but  he  saw 
only  Adela's  slender  fingers  clasping  the  foaming 
glass — her  soft,  entreating  eyes — her  crimson,  parted 
lips ',  heard  only  the  thrilling  tones  of  her  voice. 
For  a  moment  he  wavered,  and  half  raised  the  goblet 
to  his  lips,  when  a  triumphant  laugh  from  some  one 
near  arrested  him,  and,  putting  the  glass  aside,  and 
bowing  his  head  to  Adela,  he  faltered  forth  an  ex 
cuse. 

Cries  of  "Shame!  shame!  Carroll!"  resounded 
from  the  young  men ;  while  Lovel,  who  was  on  the 
other  side  of  Adela,  leaned  forward,  and,  asking  her 
permission,  seized  and  drained  the  brimming  cup. 

Adela  rose  now  to  leave  the  table,  and  the  gentle 
men  accompanied  the  ladies  to  the  drawing-room.  As 
they  stood  in  groups,  before  dispersing,  some  one  pro- 


196  ADELA   LINCOLN. 

posed  music,  that,  amid  its  "  sweet  harmonies,"  the 
evening  might  close. 

"  If  you  could  only  induce  Lovel  to  sing,"  said 
Frank.  "  But  he  is  the  most  impracticable  fel 
low  " 

"  Oh  !  does  Mr.  Lovel  sing  ?"  exclaimed  the  young 
ladies,  in  a  breath. 

«<  He  does  sing  divinely,"  answered  one  of  his 
companions  ;  "  but  he  will  not  sing,  except  on  rare 
occasions." 

"  And  what  are  those  occasions  ?"  asked  one  of  the 
fair  listeners. 

"  I  must  not  tell,"  said  he,  with  a  laugh  ;  "  and 
Frank  will  get  a  scolding  for  letting  out  the  secret 
of  his  singing  at  any  time.  But  I  do  wish  you  could 
hear  him  sing  c  One  bumper  at  parting.' ' 

Lovel  was  exercising  all  his  ingenuity  in  evading 
the  solicitations  of  some  of  the  young  ladies,  when 
Adela  approached. 

"  I  have  been  so  unsuccessful  once  to-day,"  said 
she,  with  a  glance  towards  Edward  Carroll,  "  that  I 
hardly   dare   to   urge    another    request ;     but    Mr 
Lovel  must  know  how  happy  we  should   be   to  hear 
him  sing." 

Lovel  did  not  feel  at  liberty  to  refuse  Adela  in  her 
own  house,  and,  with  grave  propriety,  consented  to 


ADELA  LINCOLN.  197 

sing,  upon  condition  that  she  would  play  him  an 
accompaniment.  Adela  was  enchanted  ;  the  eager 
ness  with  which  he  had  drank  the  wine  rejected  by 
Edward  Carroll  had  soothed  her  wounded  vanity,  and 
here,  she  thought,  was  another  instance  in  which  he 
had  been  moved  by  her  influence.  She  took  her  place 
at  the  piano,  and  Lovel  leaned  against  the  wall,  with 
his  face  towards  her,  and  began  to  sing ;  and,  as  the 
liquid,  impassioned  notes  poured  through  the  room, 
every  heart  thrilled  beneath  their  power.  There  was 
a  strange  pathos  in  his  tones,  and,  as  his  voice  lin 
gered  on  the  last  lines  of  the  song,  Adela  ceased  to 
accompany  him.  Instead  of  her  fingers,  her  elbow 
pressed  the  keys,  her  cheek  rested  upon  her  hand, 
and  her  upraised  eyes,  fixed  upon  Level's  face,  glis 
tened  with  unshed  tears.  Level's  eye  fell  as  he  ceased 
to  sing,  and  encountered  Adela's.  In  a  moment  her 
cheek  and  brow  were  suffused  with  a  crimson  flush, 
and  her  trembling  lips  refused  to  utter  the  compli 
ment  she  would  have  offered.  Lovel  would  have  been 
blind  indeed  not  to  have  perceived  ner  emotion,  and 
colder  than  death  to  have  beheld  it  unmoved. 

Adela  felt  that  the  time  had  come  when  she  must 
crush  the  hope  which  she  had  so  long  allowed  Edward 
Carroll  to  cherish,  and  she  detained  him  now,  upon 

some  pretext,  after  the  others  had  departed.     The 
17* 


198  ADELA   LINCOLN. 

tumult  that  stirred  her  heart  enabled  her  better  to 
comprehend  the  pain  that  she  was  about  to  inflict, 
and  her  voice  softened  into  kindness  as  she  began : 

"  I  have  something  of  importance  to  say  to  you, 
Edward " 

She  hesitated,  too  much  embarrassed  to  proceed, 
and  lifted  her  eyes  to  his  face.  He  was  very  pale, 
and  was  regarding  her  with  a  fixed  look,  as  if  he 
would  have  read  her  soul.  She  covered  her  face 
with  her  hands,  and  burst  into  tears.  Edward  seized 
her  hand  and  exclaimed : 

"  Oh  !  Adela,  I  thank  you  for  those  tears.  Do 
not  suppose  that  I  do  not  know  all  that  you  would 
say.  For  days  past  I  have  marked  you  as  you  have 
yielded  to  a  passion  of  which  I  was  not  the  object. 
I  have  loved  too  truly  myself  not  to  read  aright  the 
varying  emotions  that  were  painted  on  your  express 
ive  face.  But  I  thank  you  for  those  tears  :  they 
prove  to  me  that  you  are  not  a  mere  coquette ;  that 
you  have  not  drawn  me  on,  and  kept  me  at  your  feet, 
merely  to  trample  on  me " 

"  Edward,"  interrupted  Adela,  "  I  do  not  deserve 
such  kindness  ;  I  have  trifled  with  your  regard." 

"  I  have  loved  you,"  he  continued,  "  with  an  ar 
dent  love,  but  I  have  loved  in  vain.  I  would  have 
devoted  my  whole  existence  to  you  j  but  the  cold 


ADELA  LINCOLN.  199 

preference  which  you  once  confessed  for  me  is  swal 
lowed  up  in  an  absorbing  feeling  for  another.  Tell 
me,  Adela,  is  it  not  so  ? — or  am  I  blinded  by  jealousy, 
and  can  you  yet  be  mine  ?" 

"  I  can  never  be  yours,  Edward,"  said  Adela,  in  a 
low  voice. 

"  I  knew  it,"  said  Edward  ;  "  but  I  felt  that  I 
must  hear  it  from  your  own  lips.  I  shall  have  a 
hard  struggle,  Adela,  but  you  shall  see  that  I  will 
bear  it  manfully.  I  will  not  withdraw  from  the 
world,  but  I  will  strive  to  seek  relief  in  attending 
more  closely  to  the  duties  of  my  profession.  I  have 
neglected  every  duty,  I  fear,  in  the  sweet  intoxication 
that  has  steeped  my  senses  since  I  knew  you.  And 
now  that  my  brief  dream  is  past,  may  I  not  call  you 
my  friend? 

"  Oh !  always, Edward — the  truest,  warmest,  best!" 
cried  Adela,  as  her  tears  again  flowed  ;  and  she  felt 
in  losing  him,  a  sense  of  his  value  she  had  never 
known  before. 

"  Adela,"  said  Edward,  after  a  troubled  pause, 
"  in  view  of  this  friendship,  of  which  you  so  sweetly 
assure  me,  I  am  going  to  to  take  what  would  other 
wise  be  an  unwarrantable  liberty.  I  would  warn 
you " 

Adela  started, 


200  ADELA  LINCOLN. 

"  How  !  warn  me,  Edward  !" 

"  Adela,  do  you  remember  how  you  tempted  me  at 
dinner  ?  Oh !  you  were  wrong — so  wrong  !  Do  you 
remember,  too,  how  pleased  you  were  when  Lovel 
seized  and  drained,  with  eager  haste,  the  glass  that  I 
refused  ?  You  thought  it  a  tribute  to  you  ;  but  he 
loves  the  wine.  Night  after  night,  when  you  have 
parted  from  him  and  his  gay  companions,  after  some 
late  gathering,  have  they  adjourned  to  their  hotel ; 
not  to  sleep,  but  to  keep  up  a  noisy  revel  until  morn 
ing.  In  these  convivial  circles  Lovel  is  the  presiding 
genius — drinking,  not  to  excess,  but  enough  to  give 
a  fearful  premonition  of  what  may  be  his  future  fate 
— charming  by  his  conversation,  which  flows  then 
with  a  spirit  of  which  those  who  have  seen  him  only 
in  calmer  moments  can  have  no  conception,  and  lend 
ing  the  enchantments  of  his  voice  to  some  of  those 
melodies  in  which  a  halo  of  exquisite  sentiment  is 
thrown  around  the  wine-cup,  to  hide  its  real,  hideous 
deformity." 

"  Stop  !"  exclaimed  Adela.  "  You  must  surely 
exaggerate,  Mr.  Carollj  you  have  such  strict  notions 
about  drinking.  My  brother " 

"  Alas  !"  interrupted  Edward,  "I  fear  that  Frank 
does  not  look  upon  such  excesses  with  the  horror  that 
he  ought  to  feel ;  but  oh !  Adela,  it  is  of  you  I  think; 


ADELA  LINCOLN.  201 

I  would  save  you  if  I  could.  I  have  no  idea  that  you 
will  tear  Lovel  from  your  heart ;  I  do  not  ask  it ;  but 
I  entreat  you  to  endeavor  to  influence  him,  before 
you  bind  yourself  to  him  for  life.  Make  it  a  condi 
tion  of  giving  him  your  hand,  that  he  shall  abandon 
his  habit  of  drinking,  and  put  him  upon  a  probation 
until  he  proves  that  he  can  govern  himself.  Believe 
me,  a  woman  has  far  more  influence  over  her  lover 
than  she  will  ever  have  over  her  husband." 

"  You  show  your  generosity,  Edward,"  said  Ade- 
la,  "  in  your  anxiety  for  my  happiness,  and  I  am 
grateful  to  you  for  it ;  but  I  can  make  no  promise. — 
Indeed,  I  should  be  premature  in  doing  so,  as  Mr. 
Lovel  has  never  made  me  an  offer  of  marriage,  or  in 
any  way  led  me  to  suspect  that  such  was  his  inten 
tion.  I  was  induced  to  have  an  explanation  with 
you,"  continued  she,  blushing  painfully,  "  not  by 
anything  that  Mr.  Lovel  has  said,  but  by  discovering 
that  I  did  not,  nor  ever  could,  cherish  for  you  the 
feelings  which  your  own  warm  and  disinterested  af 
fection  demanded." 

From  this  time  Lovel  seemed  gradually  to  awake 
to  a  perception  of  Adela's  attractions ;  a  thousand 
nameless  assiduities,  which  he  had  not  extended  be 
fore,  caused  her  heart  to  glow  with  the  hope  that  she 
was  beloved.  He  prolonged  his  stay,  after  his  college 


202  ADELA   LINCOLN. 

friends  had  left  for  their  respective  homes,  and  ac 
cepted  an  invitation  from  Frank  to  accompany  the 
family  to  a  country  seat  which  they  had,  a  few  miles 
from  town.  They  were  absent  only  a  few  weeks ; 
and  when  they  returned,  Lovel  was  the  declared  and 
accepted  lover  of  Adela. 

In  the  excess  of  her  happiness,  Adela  forgot 
Edward  Carroll's  warning ,  or  if  she  remembered  it, 
it  was  with  a  sigh  at  the  thought  that  his  jealousy 
had  so  prejudiced  him.  She  had  seen,  from  child 
hood,  that  her  brother,  and  nearly  all  the  gentlemen 
who  visited  at  her  father's  house,  partook  freely  of 
wine,  and  often  of  stronger  liquors,  and  that  an  occa 
sional  excess  among  them  was  regarded  rather  as  a 
matter  of  amusement  than  as  an  evil  to  be  deplored. 

Adela's  marriage  was  celebrated  as  soon  as  the 
necessary  preparations  could  be  made,  and  it  was 
arranged  that  she  should  remain  a  month  or  two  after 
the  event  with  her  parents,  before  accompanying  her 
husband  to  his  home. 

Level's  mother,  his  only  near  relative,  resided  on 
a  plantation  in  one  of  the  lower  counties  of  Virginia, 
which  he  had  inherited  from  his  father,  and  managed 
and  controlled  the  estate  in  the  absence  of  her  son. 
She  sent  to  Adela  messages  of  love  and  congratula 
tion,  and  promised  to  have  her  home  in  readiness 


ADELA  LINCOLN.  203 

when  the  few  months  she  had  promised  to  her  parents 
should  have  elapsed.  She  would  then,  she  said,  re 
sign  her  charge,  and  remove  to  a  small  estate  which 
was  exclusively  her  own  property,  in  a  distant  part 
of  the  same  county.  Adela  looked  forward  with 
some  dread  to  entering  upon  an  untried  sphere  of 
life,  the  responsibilities  of  which,  she  feared,  she 
was  not  fitted  to  encounter ;  but  this  uneasiness  did 
not  last  long,  and  she  gave  herself  up  to  the  unalloy 
ed  enjoyment  of  the  present.  Society  had  lost  none 
of  its  charms,  and  her  husband  was  always  ready  to 
accompany  her  to  those  scenes  of  frivolity,  where  she 
had  not  yet  lost  the  importance  which  she  had  en 
joyed  as  a  flattered  belle,  and  where  he  was  always 
admired  for  his  high-bred  manners  and  agreeable 
conversation.  Adela  discovered  that  her  husband's 
tastes  were  elegant  and  luxurious,  but,  in  her 
mother's  well-ordered  house,  it  was  an  easy  matter 
to  minister  to  them ;  and,  though  she  saw  that  he 
lounged  in  perfect  indolence  through  those  hours  of 
the  day  usually  employed  by  men  in  active  exercise, 
either  of  mind  or  body,  she  was  too  well  pleased  to 
have  him  constantly  with  her  to  regret  the  cause 
which  procured  her  the  pleasure  of  his  society. 


CHAPTER  III. 


'  Her  lot  is  on  you,  silent  tears  to  weep, 
And  patient  smiles  to  wear  through  suffering's  hoar) 
And  sunless  riches  from  affection's  deep, 
To  pour  on  broken  reeds,  a  wasted  shower  I 
And  to  make  idols,  and  to  find  them  clay — " 

Hemans. 


It  was  about  sunset  on  a  lovely  April  day,  that 
Lovel  pointed  out  to  his  wife,  her  new  home  ;  the 
carriage  in  which  they  travelled  had  been  drawn 
up,  for  a  few  moments  on  the  top  of  a  hill,  and  Adela 
gazed  with  delight  upon  the  scene  which  met  her  view. 
Her  husband's  plantation  was  an  extensive  one,  and 
lay  directly  before  them ;  the  house,  which  stood  on 
a  gentle  slope  was  antiquated  in  style ;  but  the  steep 
roof  and  long  piazzas  were  covered  with  climbing 
vines,  and  all  the  usual  out-buildings,  and  the  cabins 
of  the  negroes  which  stood  at  a  little  distance  from 

the  mansion,  were  of  snowy  whiteness,  and  contrasted 
204 


ADELA  LINCOLN.  205 

well  with  the  vivid  green  of  the  fine  forest  trees 
which  were  scattered  among  them.  There  was  a  gar 
den  on  one  side  with  large  green  mounds,  and  a 
number  of  fruit  trees  in  blossom,  interspersed  among 
the  flower  and  vegetable  beds.  On  every  side,  the  use 
ful  and  the  ornamental  seemed  to  be  blended  with  taste 
and  discretion,  and  the  whole  formed  a  picture  sug 
gestive  of  comfort  and  enjoyment.  The  chief  beauty 
of  the  scene  was  a  creek  which  nearly  encircled  the 
plantation  ;  it  was  so  wide  as  to  resemble  a  lake,  the 
setting  sun  shone  across  it,  and  a  few  fishing  boats 
with  snowy  sails  were  moving  over  its  glancing 
waters. 

"  You  see,  my  dear  Adela,  we  will  have  to  live  for 
each  other  here,"  said  Lovel,  "  the  few  neighbors 
that  we  have,  live  among  those  hills  which  we  have 
just  toiled  over  ;  the  small  stream  which  we 
just  crossed  separates  us  from  them,  and  in  the  winter 
season  swells  to  a  great  height,  and  can  only  be  ford 
ed  at  a  great  risk.  What  should  I  do  here  without 
you  ?  If  you  had  not  consented  to  share  my  fate  in 
this  solitude,  I  should  have  been  tempted  to  sell 
the  whole  estate,  beautiful  as  it  is,  and  though  it  has 
been  in  the  possession  of  my  family  for  nearly  an 
hundred  years." 

Adela  was  too  much  in  love  to  believe  it  possible 

18 


206  APELA   LINCOLN. 

that  any  place  could  be  a  solitude,  where  her  husband 
was. 

Level's  mother  was  in  every  respect  the  opposite 
of  her  son.  She  was  an  active,  energetic  woman, 
with  a  mind  quick  to  conceive,  and  a  will  strong  to 
execute.  She  had  been  left  a  widow  when  her  only 
son  was  almost  an  infant ;  during  his  long  minority 
she  had  held  indisputable  sway  over  his  large  and 
valuable  property,  and  now  that  she  was  about  to 
yield  it  up  to  his  control,  she  insisted  that  he  should 
accompany  her  over,  and  inspect  every  portion  of  it. 
On  every  side  were  the  evidences  of  constant  care 
and  judicious  management.  Under  her  wise  rule 
the  yearly  sales  from  the  plantation  had  procured  a 
handsome  sum  ;  but  as  this  was  the  only  source  from 
which  her  son's  income  was  derived,  she  strove  to 
impress  upon  him,  that  he  could  only  through  uncea 
sing  watchfulness  and  self-exertion,  reap  the  profits 
that  she  had  so  long  and  so  abundantly  gathered  for 
him.  Level's  childhood  and  youth  had  been  passed 
at  home  ;  he  was  a  bright,  intelligent  boy,  and  his 
mother's  constant  companion.  She  had  then  instructed 
him  thoroughly  in  all  the  details  of  her  admirable  man 
agement.  He  had  been  absent  at  college  for  several 
years,  and  had  returned  to  her  now,  an  elegant  and 
accomplished  votary  of  indolence  ;  who,  for  the  few 


ADELA  LINCOLN.  207 

exertions  that  he  did  make,  was  in  the  habit  of  using 
a  daily  stimulus,  which  only  wanted  an  opportunity 
to  increase  in  strength  and  quantity. 

Lovel's  mother  was  now  anxious  to  remove  to  her 
future  residence,  but  Adela  entreated  her  to  remain, 
at  least,  long  enough  to  initiate  her  into  the  mysteries 
of  housekeeping.  Adela  had  an  abundance  of  energy, 
and  with  a  facility,  with  which  many  women  apparently 
change  their  whole  nature  after  marriage  ;  she,  who 
had  been  so  lately  a  glittering  ornament  to  the  society 
of  a  gay  city,  applied  herself  to  the  multifarious 
duties  of  her  new  station.  The  servants  were  well 
trained  and  obedient,  but  had  been  always  accustomed 
to  depend  upon  a  directing  mind,  and  she  found  full 
occupation  in  guiding  them  through  the  routine  of 
each  day's  employment,  and  when  her  mother-in-law 
left  her  at  the  end  of  a  few  weeks,  it  was  with  the 
smiling  assurance  that  she  had  been  such  an  apt 
scholar  that  there  was  nothing  more  to  teach  her. 

For  several  months,  Adela's  life  was  one  of  perfect 
enjoyment ;  her  husband  continued  kind  and  devoted ; 
walked  and  rode  with  her  every  day  through  the 
beautiful  country  around  them — sang  with  his  delici 
ous  voice  in  the  still  evenings,  and  read  to  her,  or 
directed  her  taste  in  a  choice  collection  of  books, 
which  he  had  brought  with  him  to  the  country,  and 


208  ADELA   LINCOLN. 

showed  an  affectionate  interest  in  all  her  pursuits. 
In  these  occupations  her  mind  improved  and  her 
tastes  became  more  elevated,  and  by  almost  imper 
ceptible  degrees,  she  awoke  to  the  perception  that 
life  had  nobler  aims,  and  more  satisfying  joys,  than 
she  had  ever  discovered  in  the  frivolous  career  which 
she  had  pursued  before  her  marriage.  At  times,  she 
regretted  that  her  husband  had  not  assumed  the 
active  superintendence  of  his  property  that  his 
mother  had  recommended  ;  but  when  she  would  con 
fide  to  him  this  regret,  he  would  only  laugh  at  her 
zeal  as  such  a  famous  manager,  and  propose  that  she 
should  take  all  the  responsibility  off  his  hands.  Only 
now  and  then,  a  vague  fear  would  cross  her  mind 
that  he  lingered  too  long  over  his  wine  after  dinner; 
but  when  he  would  rejoin  her,  still  the  same  self- 
possessed  and  refined  gentleman,  with  no  change  that 
was  apparent,  except,  perhaps,  a  brighter  light  in  his 
eye,  or  a  deeper  glow  on  his  cheek,  she  would  shake 
off  the  feelings  and  forget  it,  almost  as  soon  as  it  was 
formed. 

When  winter,  with  its  chilling  airs  came  on,  Adela 
with  her  husband  returned  to  her  early  home  on  a 
visit  to  her  parents.  She  felt  a  pang  at  the  thought 
of  her  former  coquetry,  when  Edward  Carroll,  among 
other  friends,  came  to  see  her.  II<?  was  paler  and 


ADELA  LINCOLN.  209 

thinner  than  when  she  had  last  parted  with  him  ;  but 
his  manner  was  cheerful  and  entirely  unembarrassed, 
and  she  heard  afterwards,  with  pleasure,  that  ho  had 
already  attracted  attention  by  his  ability  in  his  pro 
fession,  and  that  through  his  untiring  application,  it 
was  likely  to  be  a  pathway  both  to  fame  and  fortune. 

The  time  allotted  by  Adela  for  her  stay,  was 
drawing  to  a  close,  when  Lovel  accepted  a  proposal 
of  Frank  Lincoln's  to  visit  with  him,  some  of  the 
northern  cities.  They  were  to  be  absent  only  a  few 
weeks,  and  they  both  urged  Adela  to  accompany 
them  ;  but  she  decided  to  remain  with  her  parents. 

"  You  had  better  come  with  us,  Adela,"  said  Frank, 
playfully,  as  he  bade  her  good  bye  ! — "  I  fear  Lovel 
will  get  sadly  out  of  training  by  the  time  he  comes 
back.  He  is  no  doubt  tired  of  playing  the  attentive 
husband  by  this  time,  and  will  return  with  renewed 
zest,  to  the  freedom  of  his  bachelor  days." 

"  You  are  not  afraid  to  trust  me,  are  you,  Adela?" 
said  her  husband,  as  he  held  her  in  a  parting 
embrace. 

"Trust  you!"  exclaimed  she,  drawing  back  from 
his  arms,  and  smiling  up  into  his  face  with  a  confiding 
look,  that  said  more  than  the  words. 

LovePs  letters  were  frequent,  and  described  most 
agreeably  the  various  objects  of  interest  which  he 

18* 


210  ADELA  LINCOLN. 

met  during  his  absence.  He  wrote  from  New  York 
that  Frank  had  been  induced  to  prolong  his  stay,  by 
meeting  some  of  his  old  college  friends  j  but  that 
he  would  be  at  home  at  the  appointed  time.  Adela 
looked  forward  to  her  husband's  return  with  emotions 
of  the  purest  joy ;  she  had  scarcely  realized  how  in 
tensely  dear  he  was  to  her  heart,  until  he  was  sepa 
rated  from  her.  She  had  watched  for  him  on  the 
day  of  his  return,  and  flew  to  meet  him  as  he  entered 
the  door.  She  had  felt  as  if  the  light  of  her  eyes 
had  been  taken  from  her  while  he  was  gone,  and  now 
she  could  not  look  at  him  enough.  But  as  she  gazed, 
she  became  conscious  that  some  change  had  taken 
place  in  his  appearance,  which  she  could  not  define. 
She  dreaded  that  he  had  been  ill  until  he  assured 
her  to  the  contrary.  He  was  paler,  certainly,  and 
his  face  had  a  worn  look,  which,  though  she  could 
not  understand  it,  struck  a  chill  to  her  heart — lately 
so  glowing  in  the  joy  of  re-union.  During  the  few 
days  that  now  elapsed,  before  the  time  appointed  for 
her  return  to  her  home,  she  observed  that  her  hus 
band  regained  his  usual  appearance,  and,  attributing 
the  change  she  had  noticed  to  the  fatigue  of  his 
journey,  she  ceased  to  feel  any  uneasiness  about  it. 

On  the  day  before  the  one  fixed  for  their  depar 
ture,  Lovel  accepted  an  invitation  to  a  party  ex- 


ADELA  LINCOLN.  211 

clusively  for  gentlemen.  It  was  given  by  an  old 
acquaintance  of  Adela's,  and  she  urged  her  husband 
to  go,  especially  as  the  supper  was  intended  as  a 
parting  compliment  to  him.  After  he  had  gone, 
Adela's  old  friends,  Agnes  Temple  and  Edward 
Carroll,  came  in  to  spend  the  last  evening  with  her. 
She  talked  with  her  usual  animation — insisted  that 
Agnes  should  promise  her  a  visit  for  the  ensuing 
summer,  and  proceeded  to  give  a  lively  account  of 
her  pursuits  and  amusements  in  the  country. 

During  the  recital  her  husband's  name  occurred 
many  times ;  her  accents  seemed  to  linger  on  the 
beloved  sound.  Several  times  through  the  evening 
she  observed  Edward  Carroll's  eyes  fixed  on  her 
with  a  sad,  anxious  look.  She  was  surprised.  Had 
her  vanity  been  as  much  on  the  alert  as  formerly, 
she  might  have  imagined  that  he  still  indulged  a  vain 
regret  for  the  past ;  but  she  had  seen  with  pleasure, 
that  he  had  long  since  conquered  all  other  than  a 
friendly  interest  in  her.  Indeed,  she  had  reason  to 
hope  that  from  the  ashes  of  his  former  love,  there 
had  arisen  another  feeling  chastened  and  subdued, 
but  not  less  true,  in  favor  of  her  friend  Agnes.  She 
felt  annoyed  then,  that  he  should  regard  her  with 
such  a  pitying  look,  as  she  did  not  know  any  one, 


212  ADELA  LINCOLN. 

she  thought,  who  was  less  an  object  of  commiseration 
than  herself. 

She  had  promised  her  husband  not  to  sit  up  for 
him,  as  she  was  to  travel  on  the  morrow,  and  after 
her  friends  had  gone  she  retired  to  rest.  She  slept 
profoundly — the  sweet  dreamless  sleep,  that  only 
the  young  and  happy  know — and  was  aroused  at  a 
late  hour  in  the  night,  by  some  sudden  noise  in  her 
room.  She  had  left  a  light  burning,  and  was  surprised 
to  find  herself  in  total  darkness.  She  called  softly 
on  her  husband's  name,  but  there  was  only  a  quick 
heavy  breathing,  and  a  shuffling  sound  in  reply. 
Adela  was  very  courageous,  to  find  her  way  to  the 
dressing-table,  and  to  light  a  candle  which  stood 
there  was  the  work  of  a  moment.  She  looked  in 
the  direction  whence  the  sound  proceeded,  and,  God 
in  Heaven !  what  a  sight  was  there !  Was  that 
wretched  object,  with  disordered  hair  and  flushed 
face,  and  eyes  gleaming  with  a  stupid  stare  her  hus 
band  ? — her  noble,  handsome,  intellectual  husband  ? 
She  had  never  in  her  life  seen  any  thing  like  it  be 
fore  ;  but  she  comprehended  in  a  moment,  that  he 
was  in  a  state  of  most  degrading  intoxication.  She 
did  not  shriek  or  faint,  as  the  awful  truth  flashed 
upon  her,  and  for  tears — she  felt  as  if  their  very 
fountain  was  dried  up — but  her  first  thought  was 


ADELA  LINCOLN.  213 

concealment.  Yes !  she  must  hide  from  her  parents, 
from  every  one,  his  terrible  situation.  She  whispered 
to  him  softly,  but  his  only  answer  was  a  maudlin 
laugh,  as  he  stroked  her  face  with  his  trembling 
hands.  She  threw  her  arms  around  him,  and  urged 
him  to  lie  down,  and  when  he  fell  heavily  upon  his 
bed,  she  stole  gently  down  stairs,  to  close  the  street 
door  which  he  had  left  open.  He  was  soon  now  in  a 
deep  slumber ;  the  night  wa*s  far  spent,  and  Adela 
sat  by  him  to  keep  her  sad  vigil,  until  the  dawn  of 
day. 

She  let  her  thoughts  go  back  to  the  time,  when 
Edward  Carroll  had  warned  her  of  her  husband's 
love  for  wine  ;  how  lightly  had  she  regarded  that 
warning ;  how  impossible  it  had  seemed  to  her  that 
he,  whom  she  so  loved  and  honored  could  fall ;  she 
shuddered  with  horror,  as  she  recalled  the  day,  when 
she,  in  the  pride  of  her  beauty,  had  played  the  part 
of  temptress,  and  had  urged  upon  another  the 
glass  that  he  had  so  eagerly  drained.  Had  she  not 
then  offended  in  the  sight  of  Heaven,  and  was  this 
the  retribution  ?  She  fell  on  her  knees,  and  in  the 
anguish  of  her  spirit  exclaimed,  "  That  her  punishment 
was  greater  than  she  could  bear." 

She  recalled  her  husband's  singular  look,  when  he 
returned  from  his  visit  to  New  York,  and  she  realized 


214  ADELA  LINCOLN. 

now,  that  it  must  have  been  the  consequence  of 
similar  excesses,  while  absent  from  her  ;  sh^  remem 
bered  how  fondly  and  implicitly  she  had  expressed 
her  trust  in  him,  when  he  left  her  ;  and  was  this  the 
return  for  her  faith  ?  And  yet  she  felt  no  anger  to 
wards  him,  no  contempt  for  his  weakness  tender 
ness,  compassion,  a  yearning  desire  to  save  him  from 
future  degradation,  and  above  all,  to  hide  his  dis 
grace — were  the  feelings  that  possessed  her  soul. 
She  had,  until  now,  felt  regret  at  leaving  her  pa 
rents  j  now  she  was  impatient  to  get  away  from 
them,  and  from  every  curious  eye.  She  thought  that 
if  she  were,  once  more,  with  her  husband  in  the  soli 
tude  of  the  country,  where  no  temptation  would 
assail  him,  that  he  would  be  safe  ;  she  would  not 
allow  herself  to  believe  it  possible  that  he  would  ever 
violate  the  sanctity  of  his  own  home. 

The  morning  dawned,  and  found  her  still  kneeling 
at  his  side  ;  she  waited  until  she  heard  the  servants 
moving  about  below,  and  then  descended  to  counter 
mand  the  orders  given  the  night  before,  for  her 
journey  on  that  day,  alleging  as  a  reason  that  Mr. 
Lovel  was  not  well  enough  to  travel.  When  she  re 
turned  to  her  chamber,  she  found  her  husband  still 
sleeping  profoundly,  and  she  prepared  to  dress  her 
self  carefully,  and  to  efface,  as  far  as  possible,  all 


ADELA  LINCOLN.  215 

traces  of  agitation  from  her  face,  and  to  meet  her 
parents  at  breakfast  with  an  assumed  cheerfulness. 
Her  mother,  at  first,  was  full  of  solicitude  at  hearing 
that  Mr.  Lovel  was  unwell,  and  begged  that  he  would 
have  advice  ;  but  Adela  assured  her  that  he  wanted 
only  quiet,  and  added,  with  an  attempt  at  careless 
ness,  that  he  had  been  kept  up  a  little  too  late  the 
night  before.  Her  mother  perceiving  in  her  tremu 
lous  tone  and  nervous  manner,  only  the  natural  un 
easiness  about  the  indisposition  of  a  beloved  object, 
forebore  to  question  her,  and  as  soon  as  she  could 
she  returned  to  her  room.  She  feared  that  her  hus 
band  should  wake  before  he  had  slept  off  the  effects 
of  his  carouse  ;  she  darkened  the  room,  and  drawing 
a  chair  to  his  bedside,  sat  for  hours  engaged  in  bitter 
thoughts.  She  could  not  bear  to  look  on  him  as  he 
lay  before  her  so  debased,  her  eyes  rather  sought  the 
floor,  drooping  with  the  shame  that  he  ought  to  have 
felt  for  himself. 

She  was  not  aware  when  he  awaked,  or  that  with 
returning  consciousness  he  had  recalled  his  situation 
on  the  night  before.  He  raised  himself  on  one 
elbow,  and  leaning  his  aching  head  upon  his  hand, 
gazed  silently  upon  his  injured  wife.  He  noticed  her 
bowed  head,  her  pallid  cheeks,  her  attitude  of  hope- 


216  ADELA  LINCOLN. 

less  dejection — and  tenderness,  remorse  and  penitence, 
rushed  in  full  tide  upon  his  heart. 

"  My  dear  Adela  !"  burst  from  his  lips. 

She  started  —  his  tones  were  indeed  the  dear 
familiar  sounds  that  were  wont  to  greet  her  ear ; 
she  looked  anxiously  in  his  face  ;  the  light  of  intel 
ligence  and  love  again  beamed  from  his  eyes,  and  in 
an  instant  she  was  on  her  knees  at  his  side,  her  arms 
around  his  neck,  and  her  face  buried  in  his  bosom. 

"  Forgive  !"  he  whispered,  as  he  drew  her  to  his 
heart,  and  her  tears  fell  like  rain ;  she  could  not 
speak,  but  she  lifted  her  hand  and  eyes  above. 

"  I  cannot,  Adela,"  said  he,  "  you  must  pray  for 
me." 

And  in  words,  broken  by  sobs,  she  did  pray,  as 
only  a  woman  can,  when  her  love  for  the  object  of 
her  prayers  is  twisted  with  the  strings  of  her  own 
life. 

"  And  now,  dearest,"  said  Lovel,  "  you  must  leave 
me  alone,  I  cannot  bear  that  even  you  should  be  with 
me  to-day.  Go  to  your  parents,  and  I  will  join  you 
this  evening  ;  you  may  say  with  truth,  now,  that  I 
have  only  a  violent  headache,  and  to-morrow,  Adela, 
we  will  return  to  our  home ;  once  there,  with  you 
alone  at  my  side,  and  I  am  safe." 


ADELA  LINCOLN.  217 

Adela  remained  in  another  room  until  the  traces 
of  her  emotion  had  disappeared  from  her  face,  and 
•when  she  rejoined  her  mother  it  was  with  a  lighter 
step. 

Once  more  at  her  own  home,  and  Adela  breathed 
freely  again  ;  hope  shed  its  illusive  beams  upon  her 
heart,  and  she  strove  to  banish  the  past  as  a  frightful 
dream. 

But  ease  of  mind  was  not  Adela's  portion  ;  her 
husband  became,  if  possible,  more  indolent  than  be 
fore  ;  always  thoroughly  amiable  towards  his  wife, 
he  would  make  any  exertion  to  promote  her  enjoy 
ment,  and  if  his  personal  attention  to  her  amusements 
could  have  sufficed  she  would  have  been  happy  j  but 
she  saw  with  pain,  that  the  affairs  of  his  plantation, 
which  under  the  indefatigable  management  of  his 
mother,  had  gone  on  for  so  many  years  with  the  regu 
larity  of  a  machine,  were  falling  fast  into  confusion. 
Complaints  arose  among  dependents,  who  willing  and 
obedient  under  the  directing  hand  of  a  master,  be 
came  idle  and  insubordinate  under  the  imperfect 
superintendence  of  one  of  their  own  order,  selected 
from  and  set  above  them,  merely  that  their  master 
might  gratify  his  love  of  ease.  Confusion,  dishonesty, 
and  ruinous  waste  ensued,  until  by  degrees  the  plan- 


19 


218  ADELA  LINCOLN. 

tation,  so  lately  presenting  a  picture  of  admirable 
order  and  smiling  plenty,  bore  only  the  evidences  of 
melancholy  decay. 

Adela  in  vain  attempted  to  arouse  her  husband  to 
a  sense  of  the  abuses  that  had  arisen  in  the  domain  ; 
but  he  either  parried  her  remonstrances  by  some 
laughing  evasion,  or  if  she  persisted,  became  so 
visibly  annoyed  that  she  felt  that  there  was  a  point 
beyond  which  she  could  not  venture  to  urge  him. 
She  endeavored  now,  by  redoubled  attention  to  the 
duties  of  her  own  department,  to  arrest  the  growing 
evil ;  and  so  long  as  nothing  was  wanting  in  the  com 
fort  and  elegance  of  his  domestic  menage,  her  self-in 
dulgent  husband  shut  his  eyes  to  the  accumulated 
disorder  without.  But  the  time  came  when  his  indi 
vidual  comfort  began  to  be  affected  by  the  misrule 
of  his  property ;  and  when  he  discovered  that  the 
yearly  profits  of  his  estate  were  about  half  what  they 
had  been  under  his  mother's  management,  he  was 
forced  to  investigate  the  cause,  and  Adela  had  cause 
for  renewed  anxiety  when  she  saw  that  he  had  been 
aroused  from  a  state  of  supine  indifference,  only  to 
be  plunged  into  embarrassments  from  which  there 
was  no  remedy. 

Lovel  now  began  to  receive  letters  which  troubled 


ADELA  LINCOLN.  219 

him  j  his  brow  usually  so  placid,  became  clouded  by 
vexatious  thought,  and  as  the  failure  of  his  usual 
resources  put  it  out  of  his  wife's  power  to  gratify  his 
luxurious  tastes,  he  became  excessively  irritable,  at 
times,  even  to  her. 


CHAPTER  IV. 

**  Her  lot  is  on  you— to  be  found  untired, 
Watching  the  stars  out  by  a  bed  of  pain, 
With  a  pale  cheek,  and  yet  a  brow  inspired, 
And  a  true  heart  of  hope,  though  hope  be  vain  I 
Meekly  to  bear  with  wrong,  to  cheer  decay, 
And  oh!  to  love  through  all  things"— 

"  I  MUST  leave  you  to-day,  my  love,"  said  Lovel 
one  day,  "  and  as  I  have  a  ride  of  twenty  miles  be 
fore  me,  and  the  day  is  sultry,  you  must  not  expect 
me  home  until  late  in  the  afternoon." 

Adela  was  surprised — he  rarely  left  her,  and  she 
knew  that  he  was  in  the  habit  of  entrusting  to  a 
confidential  servant,  whatever  purchases  might  be 
necessary  in  the  country  town  to  which  he  was  now 
going. 

"  I  thought,"  said  she,  "  that  Charles  attended  to 
everything  you  desired  when  he  went  into  A 

yesterday." 
220 


ADELA  LINCOLN.  221 

"  Yes !"  replied  her  husband, "  but  I  have  business 
at  one  of  the  banks,  which  must  be  seen  to  at  once ; 
it  is  a  terrible  bore,  but  I  must  go." 

He  caught  Adela's  wistful  look. 

"  What  is  the  matter,  Adela,"  said  he  playfully, 
you  are  surely  not  afraid  of  being  lonely  ;  such  a 
notable  housekeeper  as  you  are  now,  you  have  hardly 
even  time  to  speak  to  me  when  I  am  at  home." 

"  I  was  not  thinking  of  myself,"  said  Adela,  try 
ing  to  smile  ;  she  had  been  looking  with  a  troubled 
heart  at  her  husband's  handsome  face,  which  already 
showed  the  marks  of  anxious  care.  She  brought  his 
gloves,  which  he  had  forgotten,  and  stood  by  him  as 
he  mounted  his  horse  ;  he  leaned  towards  her  and 
passed  his  arm  around  her  neck. 

"  I  have  vexed  you,  dearest,"  said  he,  "  by  my 
gloomy  aspect  lately  ;  I  have  not  been  as  considerate 
to  you  as  I  ought ;  but  if  I  succeed  in  arranging 
this  vexatious  business  to-day,  I  shall  be  a  new  man." 

"If  he  succeeds,"  said  Adela,  listening  to  the  echo 
of  his  horse's  hoofs  as  he  galloped  down  the  road ; 
"  and  what  if  he  does  not  succeed  ?" 

About  sunset  Adela  seated  herself  at  an  open  win 
dow  to  watch  for  her  husband's  return.  The  cool 
fragrant  air  of  evening  fanned  her  cheek,  and  up 
from  the  vales  and  meadows  below  came  a  thousand 

19* 


p 

222  ADELA  LINCOLN. 

soft  rural  sounds,  grateful  and  soothing  to  the  ear ; 
but  Adela  was  ill  at  ease,  and  as  she  watched  a  dark 
cloud  that  slowly  gathered  over  the  serene  sky,  she 
thought  it  a  fit  emblem  of  the  sadness  which  oppressed 
her  once  joyous  heart.  The  sullen  sound  of  thunder 
in  the  distance,  and  an  occasional  bright  gleam  across 
the  heavens,  warned  her  of  an  approaching  storm ; 
she  became  now  uneasy  about  her  husband,  and  fixed 
her  gaze  on  that  point  of  the  road  where  she  might 
first  hope  to  see  him,  but  in  vain ;  and  when  at  last 
the  storm  burst  forth  with  violence,  she  tried  to  force 
herself  to  the  belief,  that  he  had  taken  shelter  in 
some  house  by  the  wayside.  More  than  once,  while 
the  darkness  of  night  gathered  around  the  house, 
Adela  imagined  that  she  heard  the  approach  of  her 
husband,  but  when  she  looked  forth  there  was  no  ap 
pearance  to  indicate  his  coming,  and  no  sound,  save 
the  dull  splashing  of  the  rain  drops  upon  the  roof. 
It  was  late  when  the  storm  was  over,  but  Adela  de 
termined  to  sit  up  for  her  husband,  and  she  gave 
orders  for  one  of  the  men  servants  to  await  his  mas 
ter's  return,  and  for  the  rest  of  the  household  to 
retire.  All  was  quiet  now,  and  as  Adela,  in  her 
restless  anxiety,  threw  open  the  door  again,  she  heard 
distinctly  the  quick  stamping  of  horse's  feet;  she 
was  sure  now  that  it  was  Lovel,  and  greeted  him 


* 


ADELA  LINCOLN.  223 

joyfully  by  name,  but  there  was  no  answer,  and  a 
mysterious  horror  came  over  her,  as  the  sound  she 
had  first  heard  continued.  The  animal  stood,  appa 
rently,  at  the  end  of  a  gravel  walk  which  led  to  the 
door,  and  as  Adela  stood  for  a  moment  unable  to 
move,  she  saw  sparks  fly  from  the  stones,  as  if  hoofs 
struck  against  them.  Wild  with  fear  she  called 
out — 

"  Here  !  Charles  !  come  quickly  !  bring  a  lantern, 
your  master  must  have  come" — and  rushed  down  the 
walk  towards  the  spot, — there  was  her  husband's 
horse,  riderless,  and  on  the  wet  grass,  almost  under 
its  feet,  her  husband's  prostrate  form — his  face  up 
turned,  and  ghastly  in  the  lantern's  fitful  light.  At 
first  she  thought  he  was  dead,  and  threw  herself  in 
despair  beside  him;  but  as  her  hand  pressed  his 
heart,  still  firmly  beating,  and  as  his  hot  breath  rush 
ed  over  her  face,  she  knew  that  it  was  only  the  death 
*  of  his  moral  nature  that  she  was  called  upon  to  bewail. 
How  deeply  she  was  humbled,  as  she  saw  his  form 
half  dragged,  half  carried  into  the  house  ;  she  thought 
that  she  detected  a  covert  smile  upon  the  servant's 
face,  and  imagined  how,  on  the  morrow,  he  would  tell 
the  tale  of  his  master's  shame  among  his  fellows. 

By  the  time  that  Lovel  reached  his  chamber,  he 
roused  himself  sufficiently  to  remove,  with  his  man's 


224  ADELA   LINCOLN. 

assistance,  his  wet  clothes,  but  he  seemed  unconscious 
of  the  place  where  he  was,  and  as  soon  as  he  was 
comfortable,  and  in  bed,  he  relapsed  into  a  state  of 
drunken  insensibility.  How  long  he  had  lain  on  the 
ground,  Adela  could  not  tell ;  his  clothes  were  satu 
rated  with  rain,  and  he  had  probably  fallen  in  his 
effort  to  dismount.  He  had  guarded  himself,  but  too 
surely,  from  the  danger  of  exposure.  Adela  was  too 
wretched  to  sleep  t  she  gathered  from  Lovel's  state, 
that  he  had  been  unsuccessful  in  arranging  his  busi 
ness  ; — she  remembered  his  words  at  parting,  and 
that  a  glad  hope  had,  for  a  moment,  illumined  his 
heart — but  now  in  her  dismal  dream  of  the  future, 
hope  was  crushed.  Her  husband  had  fallen  again, 
and  that,  after  a  most  solemn  promise,  made  to  her  in 
the  time  of  her  first  desperate  grief — that  promise 
had  been  sealed  in  tears  and  prayers, — and  it  was 
broken — how  could  she  ever  trust  him  again  ?  She 
bowed  her  head,  as  the  storm  of  outraged  feeling 
surged  within  her  breast,  and  she  thought  how  she 
should  punish  him  for  his  faithlessness, — she  would 
meet  his  first  conscious  glance,  with  averted  looks, 
his  penitent  words,  with  cold  incredulity — she  would 
avoid  his  society,  and  if  lips  might  not  convey  a  re 
proach,  her  manner  should  evince  how  much  he  had 
offended  her.  But  Adela  could  not  long  cherish  such 


ADELA  LINCOLN.  225 

feelings,  her  love  for  her  husband  had  been  a  species 
of  adoration,  and  she  could  as  soon  have  ceased  to 
live  as  to  withhold  from  him  her  tenderness.  As  she 
closed  her  eyes,  to  shut  him  from  her  view,  his  image 
rose  before  her,  as  he  had  appeared  in  the  morning, 
when  he  parted  with  her — so  tender — so  hopeful — so 
considerate.  Insensibly  her  feelings  softened,  as  she 
recalled  his  constant  devotion,  his  unceasing  kind 
ness,  through  all  the  time  since  he  had  first  vowed  to 
cherish  her.  He  had  within  him  still,  the  qualities 
that  first  had  won  her  youthful  love.  Oh  !  death  in 
life  !  how  mighty  the  instrument  of  evil,  that  had 
thus  transformed  him ! 

When  Lovel  waked,  at  last,  sad,  sick  and  remorse 
ful,  Adela  was  again  at  his  side,  yearning  over  him 
with  deep  commiseration,  forgiving  him  even  before 
the  appeal  which  spoke  from  his  eyes  found  utterance 
at  his  lips, — and  mentally  resolving  to  devote  her 
whole  life  to  reclaim  him,  and  to  hide  his  infirmity,  if 
possible,  from  every  eye.  Again  did  she  listen  to 
his  promises,  and  again  was  her  heart  cheered  by  the 
hope  of  his  amendment.  But  vain,  alas  !  were  all 
her  hopes  and  cares,  the  first  pledge  had  been  vio 
lated,  what  security  was  there  for  the  second1?  For 
years — whatever  effort  was  to  be  made — whatever 
annoyance  soothed — or  whatever  pang  of  conscience 


226  ADELA  LINCOLN. 

drowned — wine  and  strong  drink  had  been  the  main 
spring  of  his  energies,  and  the  consolers  of  his  woes. 
For  a  time,  his  promise  to  his  wife  had  withheld  him ; 
but  now,  that  he  was  beset  by  pecuniary  embarrass 
ments,  and  as  each  day  called  for  energetic  action, 
which  his  sluggish  nature  refused,  he  had  sought 
again,  the  excitement,  as  a  refuge  from  despair,  and 
the  barrier  thus  broken  could  never  be  repaired. 

It  was  Adela's  part  now  to  watch  the  gradual  decay 
of  those  fine  powers  of  inind  and  body,  that  had  shown 
so  conspicuously  in  Level's  happier  days.  The  clear 
intellect,  the  brilliant  wit,  the  refined  taste  were  all 
clouded  under  the  stupefying  influence  of  the  poison 
which  he  daily  swallowed — the  temper  once  so  sweet 
and  kind,  became  morose  and  irritable — the  firm, 
manly  tread,  gave  place  to  a  feeble,  tottering  step — 
the  voice  once  so  musical,  now  fell  on  her  ear  in 
thick,  unmeaning  tones  —  and  the  hand  that  had 
clasped  hers  in  fond  aifection,  now  trembled  as  he 
grasped  the  fatal  cup.  On  every  lineament  of  his 
face,  and  upon  every  line  of  his  figure  intemperance 
had  set  its  ineffaceable  stamp.  But  never  again  did 
Adela  give  way  to  the  angry  feelings  which  had  so 
stirred  her  breast  on  the  night  when  the  dreadful 
evidence  of  his  broken  faith  was  brought  before  her 
eyes.  As  hope  faded  and  finally  died  out,  patience 


ADELA  LINCOLN.  227 

had  its  perfect  work  ;  in  the  time  of  trial  she  tried 
to  remember  her  own  sins,  and  accepting  her  hus 
band's  fall  as  a  chastening  to  herself,  in  meekness 
and  long  suffering,  she  bowed  herself  to  the  stroke. 

Autumn  waned  away,  and  a  winter  more  than 
usually  severe  set  in.  This  was  now  the  time  that 
Adela  had  promised  a  visit  to  her  parents  ;  but 
though  she  wrote  that  her  husband's  health  was  too 
delicate  to  permit  their  leaving  home,  her  efforts 
were  all  directed  to  making  her  letters  as  cheerful  as 
possible.  She  wished  to  keep  from  her  friends  the 
knowledge  of  her  wretchedness. 

And  who  might  tell  the  horrors  of  that  long  dreary 
winter,  when  her  husband's  voice  rang  in  wild  shrieks 
through  the  house,  or  when  in  the  paroxysms  of 
delirium,  his  heated  brain  would  conjure  up  every 
variety  of  horrid  shape  to  people  the  room,  where  she 
kept  watch  over  him,  until,  with  nerves  unstrung  and 
heart  chilled  by  terror,  she  would  try  in  vain  to  soothe 
him,  and  to  assure  him  of  that  protection  which  it 
should  have  been  his  part  to  have  afforded  her. 
Once,  after  one  of  these  terrible  scenes,  as  she  sat 
by  her  husband's  side  to  watch  his  troubled  sleep,  a 
letter  was  brought  to  her — a  long  fond  letter — from 
her  friend  Agnes,  and  containing  news  which  cheered 
Adela  even  in  the  midst  of  her  misery. 


228  ADELA  LINCOLN. 

"  Edward  Carroll,"  she  wrote,  "  has  invited  me  to 
share  his  heart  and  hand — that  heart,  Adela,  which 
was  once  so  wholly  yours.  I  do  not  flatter  myself 
that  he  feels  for  me  the  wild,  absorbing  passion  that 
he  had  for  you ;  but  he  tells  me  that  the  friendship 
he  always  felt,  has  strengthened  into  a  warmer  feel 
ing,  and  that  it  will  be  the  study  of  his  whole  life  to 
make  me  happy,  and  I  take  him  at  his  word.  I  love 
him  too  well  to  question  the  degree  of  his  regard, 
and  in  the  sincerity  of  my  desire  to  deserve  his  affec 
tions,  I  feel  an  assurance  of  future  happiness.  I 
confess  that  I  sometimes  feel  a  pang,  when  I  remem 
ber  how  passionately  he  used  to  admire  your  beauty, 
and  I  wonder  how  he  has  reconciled  himself  to  my 
plain  appearance  ;  but  when  I  see  his  face  light  up 
as  he  approaches  me,  and  mark  his  interested  and  at 
tentive  manner  as  I  converse  with  him,  I  try  to  be 
lieve  that  his  imagination  has  invested  me  with  some 
charm,  that  others  cannot  see." 

Adela's  tears  fell  as  she  thought  of  the  happi 
ness  of  her  two  best  friends.  She  had  often  re 
proached  herself  for  her  cruel  coquetry  towards 
Edward  Carroll,  and  she  was  thankful  now,  that  his 
peace  was  so  sweetly  secured. — Agnes  wrote  of  his 
rapid  advance  in  his  profession,  and  that  he  had  pre 
pared  for  her  "  such  a  delightful  home." 


ADELA  LINCOLN.  229 

"  And  it  was  from  this  fate  that  he  would  have 
saved  me  !"  thought  Adela,  as  she  glanced  towards 
where  her  husband  lay,  wrecked  in  fortune,  mind,  and 
body.  She  sighed  as  she  read  the  allusion  to  her 
beauty ;  it  was  seldom  that  she  thought  of  her  looks 
now,  but  she  knew  that  she  had  faded,  in  the  blight 
that  had  fallen  upon  her  fragile  youth. 

Adela  had  called  in  the  advice  of  a  physician,  when 
her  husband  first  became  so  ill  as  to  require  his  at 
tendance  ;  but  at  this  season  the  snow  lay  for  weeks 
at  a  time  on  the  ground,  and  the  roads  were  danger 
ous  and  almost  impassible,  so  that  the  doctor's  visits 
were  rare,  and  when  he  did  come  he  could  give  no 
relief.  She  had  written  to  her  husband's  mother, 
but  the  old  lady  had  become  infirm  with  advancing 
years,  and  was  confined  herself  by  sickness. — Adela 
had  a  few  kind  neighbors,  but  she  had  rather  have 
worn  herself  out  in  watching,  than  expose  her  hus 
band  to  the  observation  of  strangers.  Alone,  then, 
save  with  her  servants,  who,  through  all  this  dreadful 
time,  served  her  with  faithful  zeal,  she  kept  her  sad 
post  at  her  husband's  side,  praying  for,  alas !  not 
with  him ;  for  in  the  intervals  of  his  delirium  he 
would  lie  in  a  death-like  stupor.  Intemperance  had 
claimed  its  victim,  and  his  soul  was  going  fast  down 


20 


230  ADELA  LINCOLN. 

into  the  dark  valley,  with  no  light,  no  hope,  no  solace 
on  its  path. 

One  day,  when  her  husband  had  raved,  for  hours, 
until  Adela  was  nearly  crazed  herself,  he  slept  to 
wards  evening  in  a  more  tranquil  sleep  than  he  had 
enjoyed  for  a  long  time,  and  hailing  it  as  a  favorable 
omen,  she  sank  exhausted  in  a  large  chair  at  his  bed 
side,  to  seek  the  repose  she  so  much  needed.  She 
had  looked  anxiously  all  day  for  the  physician,  who 
had  promised  to  be  with  her  at  that  time,  but  the 
snow  was  falling  thick  and  fast,  and  the  wind  blow 
ing  violently  had  heaped  the  drifts  around  the  doors, 
and  she  was  forced  to  believe  that  it  was  impossible 
for  him  to  reach  her.  Charging  the  two  attendants 
who  shared  her  watch,  to  call  her  instantly  if  her 
husband  waked,  Adela  leaned  back  in  her  chair  and 
strove  to  forget  her  sorrows  in  sleep ;  she  slept 
deeply  in  utter  exhaustion,  and  was  awakened  at 
last,  by  some  one  clutching  at  her  sleeve.  Oh  !  what 
a  shock !  there,  face  to  face  with  her,  sat  her  hus 
band  ;  he,  who,  for  a  week  past,  had  been  too  feeble 
to  lift  his  head  from  his  pillow,  now  sat  upright  in 
his  bed,  his  eyes  gleaming  like  living  coals,  and  every 
muscle  of  his  face  quivering  with  terror  ;  with  one 
hand  he  had  grasped  Adela's  arm,  and  with  the 
other,  his  long  thin  fingers  extended,  he  pointed  to 


ADELA  LINCOLN.  231 

where  two  huge  fantastic  shapes  loomed  on  the  oppo 
site  wall.  The  two  servants,  who  sat  on  low  seats 
before  the  fire,  had  fallen  asleep,  and  their  shadows 
reflected  in  the  fitful  blaze,  had  caught  the  sick  man's 
first  waking  glance.  Adela  nearly  fainted  with 
alarm;  but  when  her  husband  clasped  her  in  his 
arms,  hid  his  face  in  her  breast,  and  implored  her, 
in  accents  of  the  most  intense  fear,  to  save  him,  she 
lost  all  thought  of  herself  in  the  effort  to  soothe  and 
reassure  him.  She  could  not  move,  but  she  roused 
the  attendants  by  her  voice,  and  as  soon  as  lights 
were  brought  she  turned  her  husband's  face  to  the 
wall,  from  which  the  awful  shadows  had  disappeared. 
He  still  trembled  excessively  as  she  laid  him  back 
upon  his  pillow,  and  still  holding  both  her  hands,  and 
drawing  her  close  to  him,  he  listened  apparently  to 
her  soothing  words ;  he  had  been  too  fearfully  ex 
cited  to  sleep  again,  and  as  Adela  knelt  now  beside 
him,  he  poured  into  her  ear  a  thousand  frightful 
fancies  and  incoherent  words  of  remorse  and  entrea 
ties  for  relief. 

Through  all  this  time  of  horror  Adela  saw,  coming 
over  his  faoe,  an  indescribable  look  it  had  never  worn 
before — an  eager,  appealing,  heart-breaking  look ; 
his  hands  grew  cold  within  her  own,  and  a  sickening 
apprehension  of  something  worse  to  come  rushed 


232  ADELA   LINCOLN. 

upon  her  heart.  It  required  a  tremendous  effort  to 
bear  up  ;  but  though,  through  the  dread  change,  her 
eyes  sought  his  face  in  vain  for  any  ray  of  reason, 
she  felt  that,  as  long  as  he  clung  to  her  in  his  hour 
of  despair,  she  would  not  fail  him.  She  did  not  know, 
while  she  knelt  thus  absorbed,  that  the  doctor  had 
come  in  ;  and  it  was  not  until  he  leaned  over  her, 
and  gently  disengaged  her  husband's  hand  from  hers, 
that  she  was  aware  of  his  presence.  She  saw  his 
grave  and  solemn  face,  and  when  she  looked  back  to 
her  husband,  his  eyes  had  closed,  and  a  strange  pal 
lor  was  stealing  over  his  lips.  She  pressed  her  own 
upon  them,  and,  with  one  quick  sigh  of  irrepressible 
anguish,  fell  fainting  at  his  side. 

When  Adela  returned  to  consciousness  she  found 
herself  lying  in  bed,  in  a  room  at  some  distance 
from  her  own.  It  was  partially  dark,  and  she  could 
not  realize  why  she  was  there.  There  was  a  strange 
feeling  about  her  head,  and  when  she  put  her  hand 
to  it,  she  found  that  it  was  bound  with  a  cold,  wet 
bandage.  As  her  eyes  wandered  languidly  around, 
she  saw  that  two  of  her  servants,  an  old  nurse  and 
her  own  maid,  were  standing  at  a  window,  where  part 
of  the  blind  was  folded  back,  and  gazing  intently  out. 
Suddenly  one  of  the  women  uttered  a  suppressed 
groan  ;  the  sound  aroused  Adcla  to  the  terrible  rec- 


ADELA  LINCOLN.  233 

ollection  of  the  past,  and  she  sprang  to  her  feet  to  fly 
to  her  husband.  The  two  servants,  startled  and  dis 
mayed,  rushed  towards  her,  and  implored  her  to  lie 
down. 

"  Oh  Lord !  my  dear  mistress !  don't  come  to 
the  window ! — don't  get  up  !  Oh  !  what  will  the 
doctor  say  ?" 

Adela's  mind  became  confused,  from  the  effort  of 
rising  ;  but  one  thought  struggled  through  the  mist 
of  her  ideas.  The  servants  had  implored  her  not  to 
come  to  the  window  ;  there  was,  then,  something  to 
gee  from  that  window,  and  to  see  it  she  was  resolved. 
The  women  were  now  on  their  knees  before  her,  en 
treating  her  to  lie  down.  With  all  the  calm  authority 
that  had  controlled  them  so  often  before,  she  ordered 
them  to  lead  her  to  the  window,  and  to  fold  the  blind 
farther  back.  Almost  distracted,  they  obeyed  ;  and, 
holding  them  both  with  a  grasp  so  firm  that  they 
could  not  escape,  she  leaned  upon  them  as  she  looked 
out.  It  was  a  scene  that  she  knew  well ;  it  was  the 
same  wide  expanse  of  lawn,  and  grove,  and  meadow, 
that  lay  in  front  of  her  house — not  now  gay  with  the 
garniture  of  spring,  but  one  dreary,  trackless-  waste 
of  snow;  and  in  the  distance,  among  a  group  of 
trees,  whose  naked  limbs  were  traced  upon  the  win 
try  sky,  there  glared  up  a  tall  object  that  she  had 
20* 


234  AD  EL  A  LINCOLN. 

often  looked  upon  before;  it  was  the  tombstone  which 
covered  the  grave  of  her  husband's  father.  Yet  there 
surely  was  one  feature  in  this  scene  strange  and  new 
— one  that  she  looked  at  with  a  curious  eye,  striving 
to  comprehend  its  meaning.  Winding  over  the  hill, 
immediately  before  her,  was  a  funeral  train.  There 
were  twelve  men  bearing  a  bier,  and  on  the  bier  a 
coffin  —  a  long,  black  coffin ;  before  it  walked  a 
clergyman,  and  behind,  a  solitary  mourner,  with  long 
streamers  of  black  crape  hanging  from  his  hat.  Yes ! 
that  was  Dr.  H.,  she  was  sure.  Painfully,  wearily 
they  toiled  on  over  the  frozen  snow,  and  still  Adela 
watched  with  calm  and  wondering  gaze,  checking 
with  an  impatient  u  Hush  !"  her  attendants'  sobs  and 
groans. 

And  now  they  pause  on  the  hill ;  and  ah  !  one  of 
the  bearers  has  slipped,  and  it  requires  all  the  efforts 
of  the  others  to  prevent  the  coffin  from  sliding  off 
the  bier !  Adela  gives  a  quick  sigh  of  relief  as  she 
sees  them  righting  their  heavy  burden,  and  going  on 
towards  the  spot  where  the  tall  tombstone  stands,  like 
a  sentinel,  over  the  graves  of  a  household. 

"  Oh  !  my  poor,  dear  master  !"  burst  from  one  of 
the  women. 

Adela  laughed !  —  a  wild,  hysterical  laugh — and 
cried,  pointing  without — 


ADELA  LINCOLN.  235 

"  Who  goes  there  ?  Who  do  they  dare  to  take 
there,  to  lay  among  the  Levels'?  Speak!"  said  she, 
imperiously,  as  the  woman  hesitated,  in  utter  dismay. 

"Oh,  Lord!"  she  cried,  "my  poor  master — my 
poor,  dear  master!" 

"  You  do  not  mean  to  say  that  my  husband  is  in 
that  coffin  ?  Mine  ? — the  light  of  my  eyes,  my  joy, 
my  pride  ?  Oh  !  why  am  I  here  when  he  is  sick,  and 
wants  me  ?  Why  do  you  not  take  me  to  him  ?  You 
see  I  cannot  walk  !" 

She  broke  from  them  and  rushed  towards  the  door; 
but  before  she  could  reach  it  she  fainted,  and  they 
bore  her  to  her  bed. 

Adela  waked  once  more,  and  this  time  it  was  to  a 
full  assurance  of  her  woe.  She  listened,  in  speech 
less  agony,  as  the  doctor  told  her  all :  how  Level's 
spirit  had  passed  away  in  the  same  moment  that  she 
fainted  at  his  side  ;  how  she  had  lost  all  conscious 
ness,  in  a  fever  that  threatened  her  brain  ;  how  kind 
neighbors  had  braved  every  inconvenience  to  come  to 
her  in  her  affliction ;  and  how  everything  had  been 
done  that  kindness  and  propriety  could  suggest. 

"  And  now,"  said  Adela, "  there  is  no  greater  woe 
for  me  on  earth.  Surely  I  have  drank  the  cup  of 
bitterness  to  the  dregs,  why  cannot  I  die  too  ?" 

It  was  long  before  she  could  listen  to  the  prayers 


236  ADELA  LINCOLN. 

of  the  good  clergyman,  who  remained  with  her  for 
several  days  ;  her  thoughts  were  filled  with  the 
memories  of  the  dead,  and  in  reference  to  him  there 
was  no  consolation.  Her  friends  had  been  written 
to ;  and  her  brother,  who  was  absent  from  home,  had 
been  summoned,  and  was  now  on  his  way  to  join  her. 
She  longed  for,  yet  dreaded  his  coming,  for  he  was 
to  take  her  away  from  the  spot  where  the  mortal  part 
of  all  that  she  loved  best  was  lying  in  the  cheerless 
grave. 

Months  passed  after  Adela  had  been  restored  to 
her  parents,  and  still  she  was  the  same  image  of  tear 
less  woe.  Those  parting  words  of  terror  still  rung 
in  her  ears  ;  that  clinging  grasp  seemed  still  to  hang 
around  her  neck,  and  on  her  memory  was  stamped  for 
ever  that  awful,  indescribable  dying  look  ! 

The  winter  and  spring  had  passed  away,  and,  at 
last,  on  a  sweet  summer  evening,  Adela's  mother  suc 
ceeded  in  persuading  her  to  enter  the  carriage  for  a 
drive.  She  had  not  left  the  house  before  since  Frank 
had  brought  her  home,  and  it  was  only  to  escape  her 
mother's  importunity  that  she  had  consented  to  go 
out.  As  they  drove  slowly  through  the  suburbs  of 
the  town,  the  carriage  was  stopped,  for  a  few  moments, 
by  some  obstruction  in  the  street.  As  Adela  turned 
her  languid  eyes  to  one  side,  they  rested,  almost  un- 


ADELA  LINCOLN.  237 

consciously,  upon  a  beautiful  house,  which,  shaded  by 
fine  trees,  stood  in  a  garden,  a  little  back  from  the 
street.  Something,  she  knew  not  what,  arrested  her 
attention,  and  caused  her  to  look,  with  almost  interest, 
on  the  spot;  it  was  so  lovely,  so  home-like.  Through 
the  open  windows  came  a  strain  of  music — an  old, 
familiar  tune,  that  he  had  often  sung ;  and  as  she 
listened,  tears,  for  the  first  time,  swelled  in  her  eyes, 
and  fell  slowly  down  her  cheeks.  Her  mother,  see 
ing  her  emotion,  followed  her  eyes,  and,  as  Adela 
pointed  to  the  house,  she  answered  her  inquiring  look. 

"  Agnes  lives  there,  my  darling — your  two  friends, 
Agnes  and  Edward  Carroll." 

"  Thank  God !"  said  Adela,  as  the  carriage  moved 
on,  "I  am  not  dead  to  all  feeling  for  the  living. 
In  the  midst  of  my  own  intolerable  sorrow,  I  can  yet 
rejoice  in  their  happiness." 


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work  published,  will  be  sold  at  the  publisher's  prices,  AND  IN  MANY 

INSTANCES  FOR  LESS.     A  Gift  worth  from  25  cents  to  $100,  will 

be  delivered  with  each  Book,  at  the  time  of  purchase. 


LIBERAL  INDUCEMENTS  TO  COUNTRY  AGENTS 

CATALOGUES  CONTAINING  FULL  INSTRUCTIONS  HOW  TO  ACT, 
SENT  FREE.       ADDRESS, 


G.  G.  EVANS,  439  CHESTNUT  STREET, 

PHILADELPHIA. 
1858. 


\From  tlie  Dollar  Newspaper. J 

EVANS'    GIFT    BOOK    SALE. 

To  the  Editors  of  the  Newspaper  : 

Will  you  please  to  enlighten  myself,  and  others  who  may  be  equally 
oblivious,  as  to  the  character  and  operation  of  the  much  talked  of  Lottery 
r  Gift  Book  Sale  in  your  city  ? 

Cumberland,  Pa.,  Aug.  12th,  1857. 

This  "  Gift-Book  Sale"  can  hardly  be  considered  a  lot 
tery,  for  the  double  reason  that  there  are  no  blanks,  and 
that  the  thing  itself — the  sale  of  books  and  the  dissemina 
tion  of  useful  information — is  good.  Not  so  the  sale  of 
lottery  tickets.  At  Evans'  nothing  is  paid  for  the  chance. 
The  book  selected  in  any  case  is  sold  at  about  the  same 
price  as  at  any  other  retail  book  store  in  the  city,  and  a 
gift  of  greater  or  less  value  accompanies  it ;  but  always 
something.  The  gifts  are  made  from  a  part  of  the  profits 
realized  from  a  large  sale  of  books,  but  how  they  are  de 
termined,  we  believe,  is  the  proprietor's  secret.  It  seems 
to  be  by  some  rule,  for  the  award,  we  understand,  is  so 
quick  as  to  be  almost  simultaneous  with  the  announcement 
of  the  sale.  To  test  the  fact  of  favoritism,  we,  on  the 
receipt  of  the  above  inquiry,  sent  to  the  store  a  boy,  who, 
so  far  as  we  know,  had  never  been  inside  of  the  place  be 
fore,  with  directions  to  invest  the  dollar  entrusted  to  him 
in  any  book  that  should  please  his  fancy — the  book  to  be 
his  own,  and  the  premium  accompanying  it,  ours.  In  a  few 
minutes  he  returned  with  a  volume  of  "Gerard  the  Lion 
Killer,"  and  a  gold  watch,  valued  at  $50,  and  which  we 
suppose  to  be  worth  probably  two-thirds  of  that  sum. 
Such  was  our  luck  ;  and  the  result  is,  that  a  boy  has  a  book 
vhich  he  may  be  induced  to  read,  and  which  he  probably 
•would  not  have  had  but  for  the  inducement  in  the  shape 
of  a  premium  held  out  to  make  the  purchase  aud  we  have 
a  good  watch. 


ONE   OF   THE   FOLLOWING  ARTICLES 

WILL    BE    GIVEN    YO 

EACH  PURCHASER  OF  A  BOOK, 
AT  THE  TIME  OF   SALE. 

Worth  each, 

A—  150  Patent  English  Lever  Gold  Watches,  $100  00 
B—  250  Patent  Anchor  Lever  Gold  Watches,  50  00 
C—  400  Ladies' Gold  Watches,  18  karat  cases,  3500 
D_  600  Silver  Lever  Watches,  warranted,  15  00 

E—  500  Parlor  Time  Pieces,  -  -  -  10  00 
F_  500  Cameo  Sets,  Ear-drops  and  Pins,  10  00 

G—  500  Ladies'  Gold  Bracelets,  -  -  12  00 
H—  500  "  "  Neck  Chains,  -  -  10  00 

I_  1,000  Gold  Lockets  (large  size  and  double-case)  10  00 
j_  2,500  Gold  Lockets,  small  size,  -  3  00 

K—  1,000  Gold  Pencil  Cases,  with  Gold  Pens,  5  00 
L — .  1.000  Extra  Gold  Pens,  with  cases  and  holders,  3  50 
M—  2,500  Gold  Pencils,  ....  2  50 
N—  2,500  Gold  Pens  with  Silver  Pencils,  -  2  50 
0—  6,500  Gold  Kings,  ....  1  00 

p_   2,000  Gents'  Heavy  Gold  Rings,      -  2  75 

Q_  2,500  Ladies'  Gold  Breast-pini,        -  2  50 

R--   3,500  Misses'  Gold  Breast-pins,        -  1  50 

S— •    3,500  Gents'      "  "          ...          1  50 

T—    3,000  Pocket  Knives,       ....  75 

U—  2,000  Sets  Gents'  Gold  Bosom  Studs,  -  3  00 
V—  2,000  Sets  Gents'  Gold  Sleeve  Buttons,  3  00 

W—  3,000  Pairs  Ladies'  Gold  Ear-Drops,       -  2  50 

X— 12,500  Propeller  Pencils,  ...  38 

Y—  25.000  Miniature  Gift  Books,     ...  25 

Z —  Miscellaneous  Gifts  varying  in  value  from  25  cents  to 
25  dollars,  consisting  of  Ladies'  Gold  Neck  and 
Chatelaine  Chains,  Gents'  Test  Fob  Chains,  Gold 
Jewelry,  Gilt  Books,   Copies  Constitution    of  the 
United  States,  Pen-Knives,  &c.,  &c.,  &c. 
$500  worth  of  the  above  Gifts  will  be  impartially  dis 
tributed   among   purchasers  with  every  $1,000  worth  of 
Books  sold. 

l|ir  When  one  or  more  Books  are  ordered  to  be  for 
warded  by  mail,  the  person  ordering  will  please  send  post 
age  (21  cents)  for  every  12mo.  book,  as  the  postage  must 
be  prepaid. 


4-          G.  G.  EVANS'  GREAT  GIFT  BOOK  SALE. 

BOOKS  AND  GIFTS  WITHOUT  MONEY 

FOR  PERSONS  SENDING  CLUBS, 


COMMISSIONS   TO  AGENTS. 

For  an  order  for  ]  0  books  bv  Express,  1  extra  $1  book  and  gift  will  be  cri  feu. 

25      «  »          3 

«         K          50       ii  «          6  «i         «  <i 

"         "  75       "  "          9  "         "  "  " 

"         "        100       "  "        14  "         "  "  " 

When  a  number  of  books  are  ordered,  they  should  be 
sent  per  Express,  as  it  is  much  cheaper  and  safer. 

DIRECTIONS  FOR  COUNTRY  AGENTS. 

l^iT  When  ten  or  more  books  are  ordered  by  mail,  no 
commission  book  will  be  given,  as  the  value  of  the  extra 
book  will  be  expended  in  postage  for  the  box  of  gifts, 
which  costs  letter  rates. 

Persons  residing  at  a  distance,  who  wish  to  act  as 
Agents  for  me,  will  please  direct  to 

G.  G.  EVANS, 

439  Cliestnut  Street,  Philadelphia. 

All  orders  for  books  will  be  promptly  and  impartially 
filled.  The  Gift,  in  all  cases,  will  accompany  the  book, 
with  a  written  certificate  to  the  person  sending  the  order. 

N.  B. — Any  book,  not  on  the  Catalogue,  will  be  fur 
nished  on  receipt  of  publisher's  price,  and  forwarded  ac 
cording  to  order,  as  soon  as  it  can  be  obtained.  The  latest 
works  will  be  on  hand  as  soon  as  issued.  Orders  respect 
fully  solicited  from  all  parts  of  the  United  States. 

POST-OFFICE   ADDRESS. 

Orders  should  be  accompanied  with  the  name  of  the 
person  ordering  the  books,  with  Post-Office  Address  writ 
ten  in  full — Town,  County,  and  State.  Neglect  of  this 
often  causes  delay  and  trouble. 

Persons  ordering  a  number  of  books  should,  if  convo- 
nient,  have  thorn  forwarded  by  Express,  as  it  is  much 
cheaper  and  safer. 


Persons  who  are  unacquainted  with  G.  G.  Evans,  are 
respectfully  referred  to  the  following  leading  Publishing 
Houses  and  Book  Dealers  : 


G.    G.    EVANS'   GREAT    GIFT    BOOK   SALE.  5 

JESPER  HARDING  &  SON,  Philadelphia. 
M.  THOMAS  &  SONS, 
J.  B.  LIPPINCOTT  &  Co. 

H.  COWPERTHWAIT  &  Go. 

PARKY  &  MCMILLAN, 
CHAS.  DESILVER, 
H.  C.  PECK  &  TIIEO.  BLISS, 
PHILLIPS,  SAMPSON  &  Co.,  Boston. 
SANBOEN,  CARTER,  BAZIN  &  Co.,  " 
HIGGINS,  BRADLEY  &  DAYTON,     " 
WM.  D.  TICKNER  &  Co., 
SHEPHERD,  CLARK  &  BROWN,      ' 

(r.  W.  COTTRELL, 

3).  APPLETON  &  Co.,         New  York. 

MASON  &  BROS., 

WM.  P.  FETRIDGE  &  Co., 

BANGS,  BROTHER  &  Co., 

DERBY  &  JACKSON, 

LEAVITT  &  ALLEN, 

MILLER,  ORTON  &  Co., 

Or  the  Philadelphia,  New  York  and  Boston  Mercantile 
Agency, 

N.  B.  The  question  is  often  asked  "  how  I  can  afford 
to  give  away  so  many  valuable  presents,  when  I  sell  my 
books  as  low  as  other  booksellers  ?"  I  beg  leave  to  offer  a 
few  words  of  explanation. 

My  Books  and  Jewelry  are  bought  wholly  for  cash,  and 
in  large  lots.  All  the  principal  publishing  houses  in  the 
country  have  made  especial  terms  with  me,  to  continue 
while  I  am  selling  in  this  manner,  and  buying  in  large 
quantities  for  cash,  and  as  my  store  is  in  the  immediate 
vicinity  of  the  Trade  Sale  Rooms,  I  am  enabled  to  buy  my 
books  at  from  20  to  50  per  cent,  less  than  other  booksellers. 
My  motto  is  "  large  sales  and  small  projits." 

Ladies  and  gentlemen  are  respectfully  invited  to  call 
and  examine  my  stock  of  Books,  Presents,  and  manner  of 
doing  business. 

1^*  Orders  from  the  Country  promptly  filled,  and  Lib 
eral  Commissions  allowed  to  Agents  forming  Clubs  in  the 
country,  and  ordering  books  to  be  sent  by  Express. 

A  complete  Catalogue,  sent  free,  containing  full  instruc 
tions  how  to  act, 


6          o.  G.  EVANS'  GREAT  GIFT  BOOK  SALE. 

The  following1  are  among  our  List,  which  includes 
thousands  of  volumes  in  all  Departments  of  Lite 
rature. 

Great  Events  in  Modern  History. 

By  John  Frost.  Comprising  the  most  Remarkable 
Discoveries,  Conquests,  Revolutions,  Great  Battles, 
and  other  Thrilling  incidents,  chiefly  in  Europe  and 
America,  from  the  commencement  of  the  Sixteenth 
Century  to  the  present  time.  Embellished  with  over 
500  Engravings,  by  W.  Croome,  and  other  eminent 
artists.  It  contains  over  800  Koyal  Octavo  pages, 
and  also  a  large  colored  Map  of  the  World,  20  by  25, 
with  side  Maps  of  California,  Oregon,  Hungary,  Aus 
trian  Dominions,  &c.  Bound  in  embossed  morocco, 
gilt  back, $3  00 

Pa  torama  of  the  Old  WorJd  and  the  New. 

Comprising  a  view  of  the  Present  State  of  the  Na 
tions  of  the  World,  their  names,  customs,  and  pecu 
liarities,  and  their  political,  moral,  social  and  indus 
trial  condition.  Interspered  with  Historical  Sketches 
and  Anecdotes.  By  William  Pinnock,  Author  of  the 
Histories  of  England,  Greece,  and  Rome.  Enlarged, 
revised,  and  embellished  with  several  hundred  En 
gravings,  including  twenty-four  finely  colored  Plates, 
from  designs  of  Croome,  Devereux,  and  other  distin 
guished  artists.  It  contains  over  600  pages,  bound  in 
embossed  morocco,  gilt  back,  -  -  -  $2  75 

Thrilling  Adventures  among  the  Indians. 

By  John  Frost,  LL.D.  Comprising  the  most  re 
markable  Personal  Narratives  of  Events  in  the  Early 
Indian  Wars,  as  well  as  of  Incidents  in  the  recent 
Indian  Hostilities  in  Mexico  and  Texas.  Illustrated 
with  over  300  engravings,  from  designs  by  W.  Croome, 
and  other  distinguished  artists.  It  contains  over  500 
pages  octavo.  Bound  in  morocco,  gilt  back,  $2  00 

Home  Memories,  or  Social  Half-Hours  with  the 

Household. 

By  Mrs.  M.  G.  Clarke,  octavo,  400  pages,  illustrated 
with  fine  steel  plates,  -  -  -  -  $2  00 

Dr.  Livingstone's  Seventeen  Years  in  the  Wilds 

of  Africa. 

With  a  full  account  of  his  Travels  and  Researches. 
Just  published,  frum  the  English  edition,  -  $>1  25 


G.    G.    EVANS'   GREAT    GIFT    BOOK   SALE.  7 

The  Life  of  Dr.  Elisha  Kent  Kane. 

With  Sketches  of  other  distinguished  American  Ex 
plorers,  containing  Narratives  of  their  Researches  and 
Adventures  in  remote  and  interesting  portions  of  the 
Globe.  By  Samuel  M.  Smucker,  A.M.,  406  pages, 
12mo.,  with  handsome  Portrait  of  Kane.  Just  pub 
lished,  $1  00 

The  Life  and  Times  of  Alexander  Hamilton. 

By  S.  M.  Smucker,  A.  M.  Large  12m o.  Over  400 
pages,  with  fine  Steel  Portrait.  "This  is  the  only 
full  and  complete  Biography  of  this  distinguished 
man  ;  it  is  written  in  the  author's  best  style,  and  has 
all  the  interest  of  a  romance,"  -  -  -  $1  25 

The  Life  and  Times  of  Thomas  Jefferson. 

By  S.  M.  Smucker,  A.  M.  Large  12mo.  400  pages, 
with  fine  Steel  Portrait.  "  Best  Life  of  this  great 
man  ever  published,"  -  -  -  -  $1  25 

The  Life  and  Reign  of  Nicholas  the  First,  Em 
peror  of  Russia. 

With  descriptions  of  Russian  Society  and  Government, 
and  a  full  and  complete  History  of  the  War  in  the 
East.  Also,  Sketches  of  Schamyl,  the  Circassian 
Chief,  and  other  distinguished  characters.  By  Samuel 
M.  Smucker,  A.  M.,  author  of  the  Court  and  Reign 
of  Catherine  the  Second,  Empress  of  Russia.  Beau 
tifully  illustrated,  over  400  pages,  large  12mo.,  $1  25 

Paganism,    Popery,    and   Christianity,    or    the 

Blessings  of  an  Open.  Bible ; 
As  shown  in  the  History  of  Christianity,  from  the 
time  of  our  Saviour  to  the  present  day.  By  Vincent 
W.  Milner,  with  a  view  of  the  latest  Developments 
of  Rome's  Hostility  to  the  Bible,  as  exhibited  in  the 
Sandwich  Islands,  in  Tuscany,  Madeira,  in  Ireland, 
France,  &c.,  and  an  expose  of  the  Absurdities  of  the 
Immaculate  Conception,  and  the  Idolatrous  Venera 
tion  of  the  Virgin  Mary.  By  Rev.  Joseph  F.  Berg, 
D.D.,  author  of  "  The  Jesuits,"  "  Church  and  State.," 
&c.,  &c.,  12mo.  430  pages.  Illustrated  with  numerous 
Engravings  Bound  in  muslin,  gilt  back,  $1  25 

Our  Parish ;  or,  Pen  Paintings  of  Village  Life. 
12mo.  452  pages,  with  a  Frontispiece,  muslin,      $1  25 


8          o.  G.  EVANS'  GREAT  GIFT  BOOK  SALE. 

Scripture  Emblems  and  Allegories. 

Being  a  series  of  Emblematic  Engravings,  with  written 
explanations,  miscellaneous  observations,  and  reli 
gious  reflections,  designed  to  illustrate  Divine  Truth, 
in  accordance  with  the  Cardinal  Principles  of  Chris 
tianity.  By  William  Holmes,  Minister  of  the  Gospel, 
and  John  W.  Barber,  author  of  "  Elements  of  General 
History,"  &c.  12mo.  820  pages,  bound  in  muslin, 
gilt  back, $1  25 

Perils  and  Pleasures  of  a  Hunter's  Life. 

With  colored  illustrations.  12mo.  "  Full  of  intensely 
interesting  Sketches  of  the  Perils  of  Hunting  in  all 
parts  of  the  World."  By  an  Old  Hunter,  $1  00 

The   Deserted  Family,    or    Wanderings   of    an 
Outcast,  $1  00 

Anna  Clayton,  or  the  Mother's  Trial. 

By  Mrs.  E.  D.  Moore,        -         -         -         -        $1  00 

Sibyl,  or  Out  of  the  Shadow  into  the  Sun. 

By  Mrs.  Kea  Russell.  Author  of  the  New  England 
Girl,  &c., $1  00 

Sweet  Home,  or  Friendship's  Golden  Altar. 

By  Frances  C.  Percival.  Mezzotint  Frontispiece. 
Cloth,  gilt  back  and  centre,  -  -  -  $1  00 

The  Angel  Visitor,  or  Voices  of  the  Heart. 

With  Mezzotint, $1  00 

The  Spirit  Land. 

With  Mezzotint, $1  00 

The  Morning  Star,  or  Symbols  of  Christ. 

By  Eev.  Wm.  M.  Thayer,  Author  of  Hints  for  the 
Household,  Pastor's  Holiday  Gift,  &c.,  &c.  16mo. 
280  pages, $1  00 

The  Battle-Fields  of  the  Revolution, 

Comprising  descriptions,  of  the  different  Battles, 
Sieges,  and  other  events  of  the  War  of  Indepen 
dence,  interspersed  with  Characteristic  Anecdotes. 
Illustrated  with  numerous  Engravings,  and  a  fine 
Mezzotint  Frontispiece.  By  Thomas  Y.  Bhoads. 
Large  12mo.  336  pages,  -  -  -^  *  s?  _  $100 


O.    G.    EVANS'   fJREAT    GIFT   BOOK    SALE. 


BOOKS  BY  T$  S.  ARTHUR. 

Read  the  works  of  an  Author  of  whom  it  has  been  said  : 

*N  He  has  not  written  a  line,  which,  dying,  he  could  wish 
to  erase/' 

WHAT  THE  PRESS  SAY. 

"  He  is  an  earnest  lover  of  truth  and  goodness,  and 
seeks  not  merely  to  please  his  readers,  but  to  make  them 
wiser  and  better." — Saturday  Courier. 

"  The  characteristic  of  Mr.  Arthur's  writings,  is  their 
practical  common  sense." — Saturday  Post. 

"  In  the  description  of  the  light  and  shadow  of  Ameri 
can  life,  in  the  palace  and  in  the  cottage,  Arthur  hag 
scarcely  his  equal  in  the  country." — A7".  Haven  Palladium. 

"  Mr.  Arthur's  name  is  a  household  word  the  Union 
over  ;  his  stories  have  penetrated  every  village  of  tho 
country,  and  are  read  with  delight  for  their  high  moral 
tone  and  eminently  practical  character." — Godey's  Lady's 
Book. 

"  His  incidents  are  rapidly  drawn  from  real  life  ;  or,  at 
all  events,  are  so  true  to  Nature,  as  to  produce  the  effect 
of  actual  experience." — JV.  Y.  Tribune. 

"  His  stories  are  suited,  not  only  to  interest  the  mind, 
but  to  touch  the  heart.  They  are  for  the  most  part  unaf 
fected,  but  they  frequently  embody  powerful  passages — 
thrilling  details." — Pennsylvania  Inquirer. 

Sketches  of  Life  and  Character. 

An  octavo  volume  of  over  400  pages,  beautifully 
illustrated,  and  bound  in  the  best  English  muslin,  gilt 
back, $2  00 

Lights  and  Shadows  of  Eeal  Life. 

With  an  Autobiography  and  Portrait  of  the  Author. 
Over  500  pages  octavo,  with  fine  tinted  Engravings. 
Bound  in  the  best  English  muslin,  gilt  back,  $2  00 


10  G.    G.    EVANS'   GREAT    GIFT    BOOK   SALE. 

The  Way  to  Prosper,  and  other  Tales,        $1  00 

True  Riches;  or  Wealth  without  Wings,    and 

other  Tales,     -  $1  00 

Angel  of  the  Household,  and  other  Tales,     $1  00 

The  Withered  Heart. 

Large  riYno., $1  00 

This  work  has  gone  through  several  editions  in  En 
gland,  although  published  but  a  few  weeks,  and  has  had  the 
most  flattering1  notices  from  the  English  Press. 

What  can  Woman  Do  ? 

Large  I2rao., $1  00 

"  Our  purpose  is  to  show,  in  a  series  of  life-pictures, 
what  woman  can  do,  as  well  for  good  as  for  evil.  We 
design  to  bring  her  before  you  as  a  living  entity,  that  you 
may  see  her  as  she  is,  and  comprehend  in  some  small 
degree,  the  influence  she  wields  in  the  world's  progress 
upward,  as  well  as  her  power  to  mar  the  human  soul  and 
drag  it  down  to  perdition,  when  her  own  spirit  is  darkened 
by  evil  passions." — Extract  from  the  Preface. 

The  Good  Time  Coming. 

12mo., $1  00 

"  It  is  like  every  thing  emanating  from  that  source — 
worth  reading.''' — Toledo  Blade. 

"  It  is  characterized  by  dl  the  excellencies  of  his  style." 
—Phila.  Bulletin 

"  It  is  a  book  the  most  scrupulous  parent  may  place  in 
the  hands  of  his  child." — Providence  Transcript. 

Leaves  from  the  Book  of  Human  Life, 

Large  12mo.  with  thirty  illustrations,        -        $1  00 
"It  includes  some  of  the  best  humorous  sketches  of  the 

a-<:hor." 

Three  Eras  in  a  Woman's  Life. 

Over  50,000  copies  have  been  sold,     -        -        $1  00 

"  This,  by  many,  is  considered  Mr.  Arthur's  best 
work." 


THIS  BOOK  IS  DUE  ON  THE  LAST  DATE 
STAMPED  BELOW 

AN  INITIAL  FINE  OF  25  CENTS 

WILL  BE  ASSESSED  FOR  FAILURE  TO  RETURN 
THIS  BOOK  ON  THE  DATE  DUE.  THE  PENALTY 
WILL  INCREASE  TO  SO  CENTS  ON  THE  FOURTH 
DAY  AND  TO  $I.OO  ON  THE  SEVENTH  DAY 
OVERDUE. 


wft  Q  «« 

_    «t-M->  A  nV    1  IOC? 

—  LIBRARY  ubc. 

-TJKT26T958 







LD  21-100m-12,'43  (8796s) 

M146551 


fas 


THE  UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA  LIBRARY 


